A cross-section of articles we've read this week about HIV/AIDS, STIs and a wide cross-sectiond of structural and systemic factors impacting HIV/AIDS in Black communities.

Science

Cocaine Use May Increase HIV Vulnerability 

Sep. 30, 2013 - Cocaine use may increase one's vulnerability to HIV infection, according to a new research report published in the Journal of Leukocyte Biology. In the report, scientists show that cocaine alters immune cells, called "quiescent CD4 T cells," to render them more susceptible to the virus, and at the same time, to allow for increased proliferation of the virus.

Insertable Ring Could Prevent HIV in Women 

Scientists from Northwestern University have developed a new intravaginal ring that they say could prevent women from being infected with HIV.

Miscellaneous

Alicia Keys: Get Loud About Fighting HIV 

(CNN) - Bernadette's father died from AIDS complications when she was a child. Her mother never even knew he had HIV until she and her daughter tested positive years later.

Closer Look at Polls Finds Views of Health Law a Bit Less Negative 

On opening day of the new federal and state health insurance exchanges, a deeper look at how Americans view the Affordable Care Act shows that public opinion is not as negative as has been reported.

The 50 States of Obamacare 

Obamacare may be a national law, but it has a different price tag in each state.

A Guide to the New Exchanges for Health Insurance 

Given all of the rhetoric about the Obamacare administration's health care law, it's not surprising that many consumers are confused about how the new insurance exchanges will actually work. Some states that oppose the law have gone as far as intentionally limiting the information that trickles out to its residents.

NAACP & Gilead Sciences Commit to Action at Clinton Global Initiative 

The NAACP and its partner, Gilead Sciences, announced a joint CGI Commitment to Action to enlist faith leaders as change agents to address the disparate impact of HIV/AIDS on the African American community onstage at the 2013 Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) Annual Meeting.

Obamacare Exchanges Riddled with Glitches 

Insurance web sites struggled on the first day that the new health programs opened to applicants.

Opening Rush to Insurance Markets Runs Into Snags 

Millions of Americans visited new online health insurance exchanges as enrollment opened on Tuesday, suggesting a broad national appetite for the affordable coverage that President Obama has promised with his health care law. But many people quickly encountered technological problems that prevented them from getting rates, health plans or signing up.

Quitting for Obamacare: Trapped Workers May Seek Relief in New Health Exchanges 

As millions of Americans wait to see how the federal health exchanges shake out, some who've been hanging onto their jobs just for the insurance say Obamacare gives them a new reason to bid their old employers goodbye.

This 'Young Invincible' is Ready to be Covered by Health Insurance 

Helen Gudger is the type of person health-insurance companies need on the books as the federal Affordable Care Act begins to roll out: young, relatively healthy and hungry for coverage.

Wildly Popular or Dismal Flop? New Health Exchanges Crash on Day One 

The Obama Administration's new online health insurance marketplaces triumphed over a federal government shutdown on Tuesday, only to fall immediate victim to internet snags.