Cochlear implantation under conscious sedation with local anesthesia; Safety, Efficacy, Costs, and Satisfaction.

Objective: To evaluate the safety, efficiency, cost effectiveness, and satisfaction of patients undergoing cochlear implantation under conscious sedation versus general anesthesia.

Study Design: Retrospective case review of 20 patients who underwent cochlear implantation under conscious sedation which was compared to 20 age-matched patients where surgery was performed under general anesthesia.

Methods: Perioperative times, length of stay, anesthesia drug costs, postoperative complications, and patient satisfaction were compared between the two groups.

Tumor-specific microsatellite instability: do distinct mechanisms underlie the MSI-L and EMAST phenotypes?

Microsatellite DNA sequences display allele length alterations or microsatellite instability (MSI) in tumor tissues, and MSI is used diagnostically for tumor detection and classification. We discuss the known types of tumor-specific MSI patterns and the relevant mechanisms underlying each pattern. Mutation rates of individual microsatellites vary greatly, and the intrinsic DNA features of motif size, sequence, and length contribute to this variation.