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.

Science

Doctors Hope for Cure in a 2nd Baby Born with HIV 

A second baby born with the AIDS virus may have had her infection put into remission and possibly cured by very early treatment - in this instance, four hours after birth.

Greater Cancer Risks Faced by LGBT Youth 

A new study led by City College of New York psychologist Margaret Rosario found that youths of same-sex orientation are more likely to engage in behaviors associated with cancer risk than heterosexuals. The peer-reviewed findings appear in the February 2014 issue of the "American Journal of Public Health."

Heart Problems Linked to Those Born With H.I.V. 

Children born with H.I.V. are more likely to have heart problems later in life, even if they are treated early with antiretroviral drugs, a recent study has found.

Risk of HIV Infection High During Pregnancy, the Postpartum Period 

Women living in world regions where HIV infection is common are at high risk of acquiring HIV infection during pregnancy and the postpartum period, according to a study by US researchers published in this week's PLOS Medicine. Alison Drake and colleagues from the University of Washington in Seattle also found that mothers who acquire HIV during pregnancy or postpartum are more likely to pass the infection on to their offspring than mothers with chronic HIV infections.

Miscellaneous

Childhood Clues to Later Risk of STDs 

Here's yet another reason to focus on kids' early years. Children who grow up in well-managed households, enjoy school, and have friends who stay out of trouble report fewer sexually transmitted diseases in young adulthood, according to a new analysis.

Federal Prosecutor Tries a Radical Tactic in the Drug War: Not Throwing People in Prison 

In the video, Joey Lee Pyatt Jr. is standing shirtless in a dingy kitchen, a blue bandana tied around his neck. The door and floor are covered with sheets of clear plastic, and two young women, one in a white string bikini, the other in black lingerie, measure white powder on a digital scale and sort it into plastic baggies.

Former Miss America Contestant Comes Out As 'Queer,' Makes History 

Miss America contestants have long been viewed as the embodiment of tradition: the girl next door, who just happens to look like Barbie. The image persists, despite blossoming diversity over the years and, in 2013, the crowning of the first Indian-American winner, Nina Davuluri. But there's at least one contestant that's not been seen on the Miss America runway-the out lesbian. It's why a particular bit of pageant news is making such an impact this week: Former Miss Kentucky Djuan Keila Trent, a 2011 Miss America contestant, has come out as "queer" on her personal blog, making her the first out lesbian contestant to have competed at a national level.

Here's How Much Your State Is Losing If It Didn't Expand Medicaid 

Following a 2012 Supreme Court ruling that made Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act optional for states, 20 states have opted out of the reform, rejecting billions of dollars of federal funding for low-income residents. Texas and Florida will lose more than $9 billion and $5 billion, respectively.

How to Bring the Price of Health Care Into the Open 

There's a big push to tell patients what they'll pay-before they decide on treatment.

New, Injectable Drug May Protect Against AIDS for Months 

An experimental new drug can protect against the AIDS virus for months, offering the possibility of a better way to protect people most likely to become infected, researchers reported Tuesday.

Twitter 'Big Data' Can Be Used to Monitor HIV, Drug-Related Behavior 

Real-time social media like Twitter could be used to track HIV incidence and drug-related behaviors with the aim of detecting and potentially preventing outbreaks, a new UCLA-led study shows.