Rates of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis remain at high levels in the United States—particularly among teens—according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), reported on by Reuters. All three of these sexually transmitted infections (STIs) increase the risk of HIV transmission.

“Chlamydia and gonorrhea are stable at unacceptably high levels, and syphilis is resurgent after almost being eliminated,” said John Douglas, director of the division of sexually transmitted diseases at the CDC. “We have among the highest rates of [STIs] of any developed country in the world.”

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Crystal methamphetamine (crystal meth) speeds up HIV replication in both test tube studies and in specially bred HIV-infected mice, according to a study published in AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses.

The connection between crystal meth use and HIV transmission has been well established by researchers—people using the drug are more likely to become infected with the virus, or transmit it onward. Studies have also documented more substantial brain damage and cognitive impairment among HIV-positive meth users, compared with people living with HIV not using the drug.

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Researchers in New York City have reported uncovering a new epidemic of hepatitis C virus infection among men who have sex with men and who have HIV infection. Researchers have previously reported unusually rapid fibrosis progression due to new HCV in MSM who have HIV infection and now expand on their findings, demonstrating that sexual transmission rather than injection-drug use is the route of infection.

Treatment is highly successful if started early in the course of infection; however, they report ominous news about liver disease progression. "This epidemic represents a new clinical syndrome for HCV infection that turns much of our knowledge on its ear: a new risk group becoming infected through a previously rare route of transmission resulting in unprecedented progression of liver fibrosis," says Daniel Fierer, MD, principal investigator on this study.

In an analysis of 21 HCV-infected patients matched with uninfected controls, unprotected receptive anal and oral sex were significantly associated with new HCV infection. Neither current nor prior injection-drug use was associated with HCV infection. In addition, treatment with pegylated interferon and ribavirin, initiated within six months of diagnosis, was completed in 16 patients with genotype 1 HCV infection; 75% achieved sustained viral response (SVR), compared to the 15% to 30% SVR rate expected with chronic genotype 1 HCV infection.

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The U.S. House on Wednesday approved legislation that renews federal funding to care for low-income people living with HIV/AIDS.

The bill, known as the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act of 2009, would provide funding under the Ryan White program for an additional four years. The House approved the legislation by a vote of 408-9, according to the clerk’s office.

The Ryan White Care Act, first enacted in 1990, is the nation’s largest federally funded program for people living HIV/AIDS and is designed to assist low-income victims with insufficient or no insurance.

Rebecca Haag, AIDS Action Council’s executive director, praised the House for approving the measure.

“This bill will ensure the availability of life saving services for those living with HIV/AIDS in all states and territories while we determine the long term impact of health care reform legislation and the National HIV/AIDS Strategy on the health and well being of those infected, affected and at risk for HIV,” she said in a statement.

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