Mayumi Kunitomo

Histochemical and functional characteristics of metachromatic cells in the nasal epithelium in allergic rhinitis: Studies of nasal scrapings and their dispersed cells

BACKGROUND In allergic rhinitis, metachromatic cells in the nasal epithelium increase in number and are thought to play an important role in nasal allergic manifestation. METHODS To determine immunohistochemical and functional characteristics of the metachromatic cells, nasal scrapings and their dispersed cells from patients with perennial allergic rhinitis were studied. RESULTS Eighty-three percent of all metachromatic cells in dispersed cell preparations were tryptase-positive mast cells (MCT), 10% were tryptase-chymase-positive cells (MCTC), and 7% were negative (n = 10). The mean histamine chymase-positive cells (MCTC), and 7% were negative (n = 10). The mean histamine content per metachromatic cell was 1.9 +/- 2 pg. The histamine content and histamine release from nasal surface scrapings of patients sensitized with mite antigen were strongly correlated with the level of serum IgE antibody for mite antigen. The net histamine release from nasal scraping was antigen-dose-dependent (1:2 x 10(7) to 1:2 x 10(3) dilution), and the antigen stimulated release of up to 17% of cell-associated histamine within 5 to 7 minutes. Histamine release from nasal scrapings induced by calcium ionophore A23187 was up to 21% of cell-associated histamine within 2 to 4 minutes, but no histamine release was stimulated by compound 48/80, substance P, or poly-L-lysine. Histamine release from nasal scrapings was inhibited 46% (10(-5) mol/L) to 96% (10(-4) mol/L) by quercetin and 58% (10(-4) mol/L) to 72% (10(-3) mol/L) by sodium cromoglycate. CONCLUSIONS These findings show the predominant characteristics of mast cells in the nasal epithelium in allergic rhinitis, and this information may be useful in relation to a therapeutic approach.

Foreign body in the maxillary sinus—possible plastic tube: a case report

We experienced the case of a patient who had a foreign body in the maxillary sinus. The patient complained of recurrent unilateral badly smelling rhinorrhea. The computed tomography and the magnetic resonance images revealed a foreign body in the maxillary sinus. The foreign body was removed via the Caldwell-Luc approach. The foreign body was a plastic tube, which was supposed to be designed for the drainage of the maxillary sinus. However, the patient did not remember having been subjected to a treatment using such kind of tube. After the surgical removal, the patient became free from the nasal symptoms.