Background/aim: Mediastinoscopy is an invasive procedure that is used in the diagnosis of mediastinal diseases and in staging lung cancer. Tumor cell seeding during mediastinoscopy along the mediastinum and the incision line is a very rare complication. This study aimed to test the safety of mediastinoscopy in terms of tumor seeding by cytological evaluation of mediastinal lavage samples taken before and after biopsy. Materials and methods:The patients who underwent mediastinoscopy in our hospital between 2011 and 2014 were studied prospectively. Seventy-three patients with a diagnosis of lung or mediastinal malignancy were included in the study. All patients underwent classical cervical mediastinoscopy and mediastinal lavages were taken before and after the biopsy. Both lavage samples were sent to the pathology department in syringes for malignant cell cytology screening. Results:The results of the histopathological examinations of lymph node biopsies were reactive in 25 patients and positive for malignancy in 48 patients. In 2 of 48 patients whose lymph nodes were reported to be positive for malignancy, the mediastinal lavage sample was reported to be positive for malignancy after biopsy, although it was negative preoperatively. In two patients, both the pre-and postbiopsy lavage samples were reported to be positive for malignancy. Conclusion:While performing dissection and biopsy during mediastinoscopy, tumor seeding into the mediastinum may occur. Long follow-up periods and large patient series are needed to determine how cytopathological examination of both fluids would affect the prognosis.

Extrapleural hematoma is a rare clinical condition whose most common causes are blunt chest trauma, central venous catheterization and ruptured thoracic aortic aneurysm. This study aimed to present three cases that underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery due to extrapleural hematoma. Etiologic factors in these cases were falls from height in two cases and a dialysis catheter placed into the right internal jugular vein in one case.

Background: Pneumomediastinum is defined as the presence of air in the mediastinal region. It is associated with events or diseases leading to a sudden increase in alveolar pressure. The air in the mediastinum may originate in the pharynx, the tracheobronchial tree or the esophagus. This study aimed to assess the clinical and radiological characteristics of patients who were diagnosed with spontaneous pneumomediastinum and received treatment at our clinic. Materials and Methods: A total of 23 patients who had spontaneous pneumomediastinum and were treated at our clinic between 2007 and 2019 were retrospectively assessed for their age, etiological factors, clinical and radiological characteristics; treatment and outcomes. Chest radiography and computed tomography of the thorax were used for diagnosis in all patients. Results: Of the patients, 15 were males and eight females and their mean age was 33.91 (15-82) years. The most common symptom on admission was shortness of breath (n = 12) and chest pain (n = 11). The etiological factors were excessive vomiting in six patients and excessive cough in five. Radiologically, the most common findings besides pneumomediastinum were subcutaneous emphysema (n = 6) and pneumothorax (n = 4). Of the patients, seven required esophagoscopy, four required bronchoscopy and no pathology was observed. All patients were fully recovered when they were discharged. Conclusions: The underlying etiological factor is crucial in pneumomediastinum. Conservative treatment methods are often sufficient in spontaneous pneumomediastinum patients with no pathology in endoscopic evaluation.

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The electrochemical oxidation of methanol was investigated by using various ad-layer modified Au(111) electrodes in alkaline media in comparison to Au(111), polycrystalline Pd, and polycrystalline Pt electrodes.Catalytic activity of gold toward methanol oxidation has tended to increase in more alkaline media, as reflected in the oxidation peak in the concentration range of NaOH (0.1-3.0 M) studied here. The oxidation peak potential of methanol shifted to more negative potentials, indicating a pH-dependent surface reaction. Among the electrodes studied, single-crystal gold electrode surfaces modified with Pd and Pt ad-layers displayed the highest catalytic activity for methanol oxidation. Additional shifts of about 350 mV in the oxidation peak potential of methanol was observed for both ad-layer modified electrodes to more negative potentials compared to that of bare electrodes. The Pd and Pt ad-layer modified Au(111) electrode surfaces did not only supply a superior electrical contact, but also accelerated electron transfer, as shown by the increase in peak current and the positive shift in peak potential. This effect was supported by the doublelayer capacitance measurements of bare Au(111) and Pd ad-layer modified singlecrystal electrodes where the potential of zero charge changed from 15 to 5 mV.

Background: Surgical treatment of chest wall deformities is done with costal cartilage resection in selected patients in adolescence. In this study, we evaluated the effect of costal cartilage resections on the lung volume by using computed tomography with stereologically. Methods: In this study, sixteen 4-weeks-old New Zealand rabbits were employed. Young subjects were preferred to evaluate the effect of the operation on the growth process. In order to avoid postoperative complications, only 2 costal cartilage resection was performed. The surgical group was resected to the right 4 and 5 costal cartilages (n = 8). The group that was not operated was accepted as the control group (n=8). The growth of the subjects was followed. Computed thorax tomography (CTT) scans of all animals were performed preoperatively and at the 4th postoperative week. Estimation of pre- and postoperative lung volumes was performed with the Cavalieri principle. Results: In the control group followed up during growth, bilateral lung volume was increased (15.75% and 20.62% respectively right and left lungs). In the surgical group, both the surgical side and the opposite lung volume decreased after costal cartilage resection (20.09% and 1.07% respectively right and left lungs). Conclusions: Even though the number of resected cartilage was limited, total lung volume decreased after costal cartilage resection. In the treatment of chest wall deformities, costal cartilage resection should be considered as the last option in children.

Synchronous lung and esophageal carcinomas are rare clinical entities. Curative resection with lymph node dissection is the most optimal treatment approach for both tumors. However, due to the high potential risk of postoperative complications, the right approach is to make a patient-specific decision via a multidisciplinary approach at all stages. In this article, we present three cases of synchronous lung and esophageal tumors treated with different approaches due to their specific circumstances and discuss their pre-, intra-, and postoperative stages.

Background:The most important treatment method in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is surgery. Detection of the disease at an early stage is one factor that determines the prognosis. This study investigates the impact of the novel coronavirus disease pandemic on the diagnosis and surgical treatment of NSCLC.