Benign Lymphoepithelial Cyst of Parotid Glands in HIV Infected Patients on Anti-Retroviral Therapy: A Narrative Review.

Human immunodeficiency virus-associated salivary gland disease is a complication seen in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), with the commonest manifestation being the benign lymphoepithelial cyst (BLEC). The purpose of this study was to systematically review the effects of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Human Immune Virus-infected patients with confirmed benign lymphoepithelial cysts of the parotid gland. The review was conducted between August 2020 and December 2021 using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis guidelines. Patients infected with a diagnosis of BLEC of parotid gland based were included. Studies from all countries were included with no age, language, and time restrictions. We used Microsoft Excel to create a data extraction form piloted before the official start. Inter-rater agreement was calculated for most of the data collection. The risk of bias was assessed using a Cochrane tool. After reviewing 512 records, 42 met the study criteria with a total of 785 patients. The median sample size of all eligible studies was 10 ranging from 2 to 60. The pooled mean age was 29 years ± 24.2. Studies primarily assessed the effect of ART on BLECs. Patients examined in the studies ranged from children to the elderly. Studies from South Africa had a higher proportion of women while American studies had a higher proportion of men. There is evidence that ARVs are effective in treating BLEC and may be used as first-line therapy for HIV infected patients.

Congenital Inner Ear Abnormalities and COVID-19-Related Ear Infections.

Congenital deformities of the labyrinth of the inner ear may be associated with an increased risk of infection and varying degrees of otologic and vestibular dysfunction. Lateral semicircular canal abnormalities specifically can be associated with either normal hearing or hearing loss (conductive or sensorineural). In our patient, the acute symptoms of vertigo and tinnitus coincided with the diagnosis of COVID-19. It is unlikely that the symptomatology was related to the acute infection, even in the face of the underlying congenital abnormality. It has been shown that there is no correlation between the severity of the radiological abnormality and vestibular symptomatology in patients with isolated abnormalities of the semicircular canals. The abnormality can be asymptomatic.

Prevalence of Olfactory Dysfuntion in SARS-COV-2 Positive Patients.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2) is associated with chemosensory symptoms including olfactory dysfunction and dysgeusia. Multiple studies have reported differing prevalence rates of symptoms and recovery rates depending on geographic location. The purpose of the study was to determine the prevalence and features of Covid19 olfactory dysfunction in a developing nation. We conducted a prospective study at a tertiary, high-volume centre in South Africa, to determine the prevalence of olfactory dysfunction in SARS-COV-2 positive patients. The average recovery time of the olfactory dysfunction was also evaluated. The study included patients diagnosed with SARS-COV-2 infection between November 2020 and January 2021. Patients were recruited to participate in a survey which assessed demographic data, date of diagnosis, initial symptoms, presence and recovery time of olfactory dysfunction symptoms. A total of 86 patients with olfactory dysfunction were included and followed up telephonically over 6 weeks in 2 week intervals to determine recovery time. There was a prevalence rate of 40.7% of olfactory dysfunction in patients in our study. A higher proportion of patients with olfactory dysfunction had fever compared to those without and this was a significant finding in our study population. The overall median recovery time in our study was 7 days. Prevalence of olfactory dysfunction in our population is in keeping with European studies and most patients recover their sense of smell within a week.

Myosteatosis, the More Significant Predictor of Outcome: An Analysis of the Impact of Myosteatosis, Sarcopenia, and Sarcopenic Obesity on Liver Transplant Outcomes in Johannesburg, South Africa.

OBJECTIVES: In high-income countries, myosteatosis, sarcopenia, and obesity with sarcopenia (sarcopenic obesity) are associated with adverse outcomes after liver transplantation. In South Africa, an upper-middleincome country, we investigated the prevalence and impact of these muscle abnormalities on posttransplant outcomes in adult liver transplant recipients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed 106 liver transplant recipients and measured muscle abnormalities on computed tomography using segmentation software. The parameters evaluated were myosteatosis by mean muscle attenuation, sarcopenia by skeletal muscle index at the third lumbar vertebra using validated cutoffs, and sarcopenic obesity as sarcopenia and a body mass index of ≥25 kg/m². The effects of these abnormalities on 1-year patient and graft survival (primary endpoint) and length of hospital and intensive care unit stay, costs, and 90-day and overall postoperative complications (secondary endpoints) were assessed. RESULTS: Most liver transplant recipients were male (n = 64, 60%). Alcoholic and/or nonalcoholic steatohepatitis were the most frequent indications for transplant (n = 38, 36%). Myosteatosis occurred in 76 patients (72%), 69 patients (65%) had sarcopenia, and 36 patients (34%) had sarcopenic obesity. One year after transplant, myosteatosis was associated with higher mortality (hazard ratio of 3.3; 95% confidence interval, 1.00-11.13; P = .049), greater risk of allograft failure (hazard ratio of 4.1; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-13.5; P = .021), and longer hospital and intensive care unit stays compared with those without myosteatosis. All patients with no body composition abnormalities were alive at 1 year compared with 69% with coexisting myosteatosis and sarcopenia. CONCLUSIONS: In our setting, liver transplant recipients with myosteatosis had a higher risk of death and allograft failure at 1 year compared with patients without body composition abnormalities.

Otologic dysfunction in patients with COVID-19: A systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: To describe otologic dysfunction in patients with the novel SARS-CoV-2. REVIEW METHODS: Search strategies acquired for each database included keywords. The keywords use were-Otologic OR Vestibular OR Audiologic and COVID-19 OR Coronavirus OR SARS-CoV-2. Resulting articles were imported into a systematic review software and screened for appropriateness.To be eligible for inclusion in the analysis, the studies and case reports should have met the following criteria:Description of otologic dysfunction in COVID-19 patientspeer review Studies were excluded if:the description of the specific dysfunction was inadequatethere were no original case descriptions Data that met the inclusion criteria was extracted and analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 62 articles were identified and screened, seven articles met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed. The articles were mainly case reports (5) with 2 case series. There were 28 patients in total identified with the largest study comprising 20 patients. All patients presented with hearing loss, 27 of whom had audiometry. Three patients had associated vestibular symptoms (vertigo, otalgia, and tinnitus). CONCLUSION: SARS-CoV-2 is a probable cause of middle ear infections and sensorineural hearing loss, secondary to spread of the novel virus into the middle ear and related neural structures.

Deep Neck Space Infection in HIV-Infected Children: A Case Series.

Background Deep neck space infections (DNSIs) in children may lead to airway compromise and damage to the great vessels in the neck. They occur more commonly in the HIV-infected population. To our knowledge, this is the first case series of DNSI in HIV-infected children Objectives The aim of this study was to describe the demography and document the sites of infection; organisms identified and resistance patterns in HIV-infected children with DNSI. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records of children (<16 years) diagnosed with deep neck infections at the teaching hospitals for the Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of the Witwatersrand, between January 2010 and December 2018. Results We identified 17 patients with DNSI of which six children had concomitant HIV infection. The average age at presentation was six years (range: 0.35-13 years); there were four males and two females. The most common site involved was the submandibular space, which was affected in four patients. The detected organisms included: Coagulase-negative staphylococcus, Streptococcus viridans, Prevotella, Proteus mirabilis and Bacteroides fragilis. The organisms were universally resistant to penicillin and ampicillin resistance was documented in all but one patient. Conclusion Our findings on microbiology, resistance and tuberculosis culture are significant even in the face of a small series and have implications for the diagnosis and treatment of DNSI in HIV-infected children. Tuberculosis should routinely be considered in high burden settings. We recommend the empiric use of a ß-lactamase-resistant antibiotic until targeted therapy based on culture and sensitivity can be instituted.

Tonsil histopathology in HIV-infected versus HIV-uninfected adults.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between HIV and tonsil malignancy has not been fully investigated and established. Both of these diseases prominently feature in the Otorhinolaryngology clinics. OBJECTIVE: There is minimal data available on the histopathology of tonsillectomy specimens in the HIV-infected population. This retrospective review compared tonsil histopathology between HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected patients. METHODS: Of the 319 adult patients undergoing tonsillectomy (01 July 2005 to 30 June 2015), HIV results were available for 160. The histological findings were compared in the HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected subgroups. The effects of age, HIV status and CD4 count on the risk of malignancy were determined. RESULTS: There were 86 patients who were HIV-infected and 74 were uninfected. Reactive lymphoid hyperplasia was the most common diagnosis in both groups (77%). Malignancies were diagnosed in eight HIV-infected and six HIV-uninfected patients, an insignificant difference. CONCLUSION: The majority of patients undergoing tonsillectomy had benign conditions. HIV status does not appear to be a specific risk factor for tonsil malignancies, but advanced age may be.

The frequency and profile of neurology in black South African HIV infected (clade C) patients - a hospital-based prospective audit.

AIM: To determine the frequency and spectrum of neurological illnesses in Black South African hospital-based HIV infected (clade C) patients. METHOD: A prospective audit of 506 consecutive HIV infected medical inpatients at the Helen Joseph Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa. RESULTS: The patients had a mean age of 37 years; a male:female ratio of 1.2:1; a mean CD4 count of 107 cells/ml. Eighty four percent of patients had AIDS defining CD4 counts (less than 200 cells/ml). Seventy five percent of patients had a neurological illness. In 64% the neurological illness occurred in association with a non-neurological (systemic) illness. Eleven percent of patients had an isolated neurological illness. The predominant systemic illness was tuberculosis (TB), occurring with a frequency of 46%. The neurological spectrum in our patients was similar to that described in the literature, (clade B virus data) other than for a greater frequency of infectious illnesses. CONCLUSION: The neurological profile of HIV infection is a function of the environment and the immunological state of the patient (CD4 count) rather than an influence of the clade.