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

MSM

Church Attendance and Late HIV Diagnosis Linked Among MSM 

Men who have sex with men (MSM) who attend church are more likely to receive an HIV diagnosis late in the course of their infection, aidsmap reports. Some evidence also suggests an association between church attendance and less frequent HIV testing among MSM. Publishing their findings in the online edition of Clinical Infectious Diseases, researchers at the 1917 Clinic in Birmingham conducted a cross-sectional study of 508 people newly diagnosed with HIV after 2007.

Rise in Unprotected Sex by Gay Men Spurs H.I.V. Fears 

Federal health officials are reporting a sharp increase in unprotected sex among gay American men, a development that makes it harder to fight the AIDS epidemic.

Science

Aggressive New HIV Strain Leads to AIDS More Quickly 

New research from Lund University in Sweden suggests that a new aggressive strain of HIV develops more rapidly into AIDS than other current strains.

Targeted Radioactive Bomb Might Clean Out AIDS Virus, Study Finds 

A radioactive smart bomb might help mop up the last bits of AIDS virus hiding out in a patient's body, even getting into the brain, researchers reported Tuesday.

Miscellaneous

Black Gay Activism and the Fight Against AIDS 

On Nov. 19, as part of its "Ordinary People" series -- a program focused on black LGBTQ books, films and politics -- the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture held a panel discussion with LGBTQ leaders to discuss services for communities of color and to analyze the factors impacting HIV/AIDS prevention and resources. But what at first appeared to be an exchange on the HIV/AIDS virus became a dialog on the historical, political, spiritual and socioeconomic ramifications that followed.

Magic Johnson On What Has Changed In HIV/AIDS Over The Last 20 Years 

We got a chance to talk one-on-one with Johnson to discuss what's changed over the last 20 years when it comes to prevention, diagnosis and treatment of HIV -- for good and for bad.

Magic Johnson Talks at Apollo Theatre About HIV/AIDS Education 

NBA Hall of Famer Magic Johnson stopped by the Apollo Theater to promote HIV/AIDS awareness in Harlem, where 1 out of 38 residents is HIV positive. The statistic is more than double the citywide rate of 1 in 100.

Obama Launches Campaign to Resell Health Care Law to the Public 

WASHINGTON -- Seeking to move past its website woes, the Obama administration is launching a two-pronged health care strategy this month aimed at avoiding enrollment snafus come January while also trying to refocus the public's attention on broader benefits of the sweeping law.

Obama Takes on Healthcare Critics and Says: There's No Going Back 

President challenged GOP to offer alternatives to health reforms.

White House using site's improvements to turn debate around.

Prevalence of Undiagnosed HIV Infection Low Among State Prison Entrants 

An analysis indicates that the prevalence of undiagnosed human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection among state prison entrants in North Carolina was low, at 0.09 percent, according to a study appearing in JAMA.

Rooting for Failure 

I just spent 15 minutes on my local health care exchange and realized that I could save a couple hundred dollars a month on my family's insurance. Of course, I live in Washington State, which has a very competitive market, a superbly functioning website and no Koch-brothers-sponsored saboteurs trying to discourage people from getting health care.

Why Some Americans are Happy Their Health Insurance is Being Canceled 

Barbara Neff of Santa Monica is one of the roughly 1 million Californians who recently got word that their health insurance coverage would be expiring soon. The canceled plans sparked a political firestorm as people realized President Barack Obama's promise - "If you like your plan, you can keep it" -- didn't apply to everyone.