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

Fighting for Oral Dominance: Good Fungi Keep Bad Ones in Check in Healthy Mouths 

Human mouths contain a balanced mix of microbes which, when disrupted, can lead to oral diseases. A study published on March 13th in PLOS Pathogens compares the bacteria and fungi present in the mouths of healthy individuals with those from patients infected with HIV, and illustrates why oral candidiasis (aka "thrush") is a common complication of HIV infection.

Miscellaneous

Can Chicago Curb Menthol Smoking among African American Youth? 

Other cities are taking note after Chicago restricts the sale and use of mentholated and electronic cigarettes

CIA Infected African Americans with HIV? 12 Percent Americans Believe in Medical Conspiracy Theory 

A new survey suggests that about half of the American adults believe in at least one medical conspiracy. For instance, 37 percent of the Americans believe in the theory that the US regulators prevent people from getting natural cures, while 12 percent also believe that a US spy agency infected a large number of African Americans with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).

Deadline Approaching, Obama Administration Takes Creative Approach to Push ACA Enrollment 

The Obama administration is getting creative in an intense push to accelerate enrollment in health care, especially among younger adults and Latinos, who trail almost every other demographic group in signing up. Judy Woodruff talks to Politico's Joanne Kenen and Larry Levitt of the Kaiser Family Foundation about the "hard sell" ahead of the March 31 deadline.

Hepatitis C Remains Major Problem for HIV Patients Despite Antiretroviral Therapy 

A new study led by researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania has found that the risk of hepatitis C-associated serious liver disease persists in HIV patients otherwise benefiting from antiretroviral therapy (ART) to treat HIV.

HIV-Positive Men's Risk of Heart Attack May Be Dropping 

The risk of heart attack for men with HIV appears to be dropping, at least in one specific, medically insured population, while for HIV-positive women the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains high, aidsmap reports. Two studies looking at each sex's risk of CVD were presented at the Conference of Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) in Boston.

Insurers Must Accept Funds from U.S. Program that Helps HIV-AIDS Patients 

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The lead agency for President Barack Obama's healthcare reform announced on Friday that it would require, rather than merely encourage, insurers that sell Obamacare policies to accept funds from a federal program that helps people with HIV-AIDS pay health insurance premiums.

Little-Known Health Act Fact: Prison Inmates Are Signing Up 

In a little-noticed outcome of President Obama's Affordable Care Act, jails and prisons around the country are beginning to sign up inmates for health insurance under the law, taking advantage of the expansion of Medicaid that allows states to extend coverage to single and childless adults - a major part of the prison population.

Lobbyists Push for Better HIV/AIDS Care 

According to the latest data released by the Center for Disease Control only 25 percent of people living with HIV in the U.S. have achieved viral suppression. In other words, three out of four people living with HIV nationwide will face significant health disparity gaps tat continue to widen, and are related to both race and age.

The Ugandan Tabloid That Stole Our Pride 

PORTLAND, Ore. - IN 2012, I was living and working at a nonprofit in rural Uganda, far away from my friends at home. As a single gay man, I longed for community. I contacted Frank Mugisha, the executive director of Sexual Minorities Uganda, an umbrella organization for gay rights groups, after reading an essay he wrote. Through Frank, I met Richard Lusimbo, the nonprofit's research manager, and then others in the vibrant L.G.B.T. community in Uganda.

Warning: Opting Out of Your Insurance Plan's Provider Network Could Be Risky 

Many plans sold on the health insurance marketplaces offer a tradeoff: lower premiums in exchange for limited networks of providers. But consumers who opt for a narrow network plan with the idea that they'll go out of network when necessary may be taking a big financial risk.