Endoscopic removal of an intranasal ectopic tooth.

Intranasal ectopic teeth are rare and ectopic eruption of teeth can occur in a variety of locations. Commonly seen in the palate and maxillary sinus, they have also been reported in the mandibular condyle, coronoid process, orbital and nasal cavities, and through the skin. With the advent of sinonasal endoscopy in the mid 1980s, and subsequent advances in surgical techniques, endoscopic management of intranasal lesions has become possible. In the current case study, we report a successful endoscopic removal of intranasal ectopic teeth located in the nasal cavity. The endoscopic surgical approach used in this case caused less morbidity than do the more common methods of removing an intranasal ectopic tooth.

Alterations of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide receptors in allergic rhinitis.

BACKGROUND: Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) is one of the parasympathetic neurotransmitters involved in the regulation of airway mucus secretion. The biological functions of VIP are mediated through two receptors (vasoactive intestinal peptide receptor type 1 [VPAC1R] and type 2 [VPAC2R]). The purpose of this study was to determine the distribution of VIP receptors and to compare the level of VIP receptor expression in the nasal mucosa of patients with allergic rhinitis and normal controls. METHODS: Inferior turbinate mucosal samples were obtained from 20 normal subjects and 20 patients with allergic rhinitis. VPAC1R and VPAC2R mRNA was extracted from the nasal mucosa, and then a reverse-transcription-polymerase chain reaction was performed. Sections were immunostained using specific antibodies for VIP receptors. Western blot analysis was used to analyze differences in the level of expression of VPAC1R and VPAC2R protein between patients with allergic rhinitis and normal controls. RESULTS: The level of expression of VIP receptor mRNA and protein in patients with allergic rhinitis was significantly increased compared with normal nasal mucosa. VIP receptor immunoreactivity was detected on the nasal epithelium and submucosal glands in nasal specimens from both normal controls and patients with allergic rhinitis. In the epithelium from patients with allergic rhinitis, VIP receptor immunoreactivity was strong, whereas in the nasal epithelium from normal subjects it was faint. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that an increased expression level of VIP receptors is one possible explanation for nasal hyperresponsiveness in patients with allergic rhinitis.