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Objective: It is well known that thoracotomy leads to several complications. In this study, effects of thoracotomy on cellular and humoral immunities have been investigated. Leukocyte counts and lymphocyte counts of 100 patients operated by thoracotomy have been determined preoperatively and on the postoperative 3rd hour, and 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th days. Also lymphocyte surface markers (CD3, CD4, CD8, CD4/CD8, CD19, CD16/56) and immunoglobulin levels (IgG, IgA, IgM, IgE) in 40 out of 100 patients in the preoperative period and postoperatively twice on 7th day and then in the 3rd week have been detected. Materials and methods: For the methodology hemocounter, flow cytometer, immunoprecipitation, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were used. Results: A marked increase in leukocyte count while a marked decrease in lymphocyte count has been observed after thoracotomy ðP , 0:001Þ. There was not any significant alteration in levels of lymphocyte surface markers and immunoglobulins in the postoperative period ðP . 0:2Þ. Conclusion: According to these results, leucocytosis occurred but lymphocyte count decreased in the early postoperative period. Immunoglobulin levels and subpopulation of lymphocytes were not affected from the operative stress. q 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Background It is known that tissue and serum sialic acid levels may be altered by malignant transformation. In this study, sialic acid levels were determined in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL) and serum in two groups of patients with lung cancer and non-malignant diseases of the lung. Methods Colorimetric methods were used for determination sialic acid in serum and in BAL samples. Flexible bronchoscopy was used to obtain the latter. Results Sialic acid levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and serum did not show any statistically significant difference between subjects with malignant and the non-malignant lung diseases (p > 0.05). Sialic acid levels were also unrelated to the stage and localization of the tumor (p > 0.05). Conclusions Sialic acid levels do not appear to be a good marker for discriminating malignant from non-malignant diseases of the lung.