When Science Isn’t Enough: The Importance of a New Social Contract for Conservation Communication

Invasive species are increasingly harming Alaska’s natural resources and communication efforts have been identified as a cost-effective method of preventing their spread. However, current communications are limited in Alaska and communication efforts have not been assessed. Using the theory of a social contract, this study raises the question: “Why have communication efforts not been successful in preventing the spread of invasive species?” This project primarily assesses opinions about invasive species from conference attendees at the Alaska Annual Invasive Species Workshop and local businesses in Alaska. Using semi-structured interviews, insights are gathered into shared value systems, level of knowledge, and degree of concern about invasive species. Answers from the two response groups are compared. Results are discussed

Book Reviews

THE IMPEACHMENT AND TRIAL OF ANDREW JOHNSON. By Michael Les Benedict. New York: W.W. Norton and Company, 1973. Pp. x, 212. $6.95. 1973 LEGAL MEDICINE ANNUAL. Edited by Cyril H. Wecht. New York: Appleton-Century Crofts, 1973. Pp. xv, 522.$19.25. CASE HISTORIES IN CONSTRUCTION LAW-A GUIDE FOR ARCHITECTS, ENGINEERS, CONTRACTORS, BUILDERS. By William Jabine. Boston: Cahners Books, 1973. Pp. vi, 233. $12.50. COURTS ON TRIAL-MYTH AND REALITY IN AMERICAN JUSTICE. By Jerome Frank. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1973. Pp. xii, 441.$15.00 cloth. ($3.45 paperback)

Ethics of Frey syndrome: Ensuring that consent is truly informed

Frey syndrome is a widely recognized sequela of parotidectomy with a variable prevalence dependent upon diagnostic criteria. There exists a multitude of strategies for both prevention and treatment. Surgeons are obligated to engage patients in a frank and open discussion of the operative risks, benefits, and alternatives. Due to uncertainty regarding the significance of Frey syndrome postoperatively, the process of informed consent and preoperative decision-making pose a potential ethical quandary. This commentary is designed to heighten the awareness of the preoperative informed consent process by dissecting the ethical tenets underlying these patient encounters using Frey syndrome as an example, ensuring that patients are granted the opportunity to participate in their own care in accordance with the concept of individual autonomy. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2010Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/77514/1/21443_ftp.pd

Sternocleidomastoid muscle flap in preventing Frey's syndrome after parotidectomy: A systematic review

Background Parotidectomy is a common procedure and Frey's syndrome (gustatory sweating) is a common side effect. The current literature was assessed concerning the effectiveness of the sternocleidomastoid muscle (SCM) flap to prevent Frey's syndrome after parotidectomy. Methods A bibliography search was conducted for studies published between 1966 and 2010 and included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or cohort studies with patients undergoing parotidectomy with facial nerve preservation. The outcome measures of particular interest were the incidence of Frey's syndrome and cosmetic impairment. Results In all, 12 studies were selected (1 meta‐analysis of all interventions to prevent Frey's syndrome, 2 RCTs, and 9 cohort studies). The trials were too heterogeneous to perform a meta‐analysis on the effect of the SCM flap. The results reported by the authors of each study suggest an objective decrease in Frey's syndrome when the SCM flap was used, but there was no difference in the patients' subjective reporting of symptoms. However, this conclusion is prone to the biases inherent in these studies, and thus overall it is impossible to make any recommendation. Conclusion Current reported evidence is inconclusive as to the use of SCM muscle flap as an intervention to prevent Frey's syndrome following parotid surgery. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2012Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/90266/1/21722_ftp.pd

The genetics of cholesteatoma. A systematic review using narrative synthesis

Objective: A cholesteatoma is a mass of keratinising epithelium in the middle ear. It is a rare disorder that is associated with significant morbidity, and its causative risk factors are poorly understood; on a global scale up to a million people are affected by this each year. We have conducted a systematic literature review to identify reports about the heritability of cholesteatoma or any constitutional genetic factors that may be associated with its aetiology. Data Sources: A systematic search of MEDLINE (EBSCO) and 2 databases of curated genetic research (OMIM and Phenopedia) was conducted. Study Selection: The participants and populations of interest for this review were people treated for cholesteatoma and their family members. The studies of interest reported evidence of heritability for the trait, or any association with congenital syndromes and particular genetic variants. Data Extraction: The searches identified 449 unique studies, of which 35 were included in the final narrative synthesis. Data Synthesis: A narrative synthesis was conducted and data were tabulated to record characteristics, including study design; genetic data; and author conclusions. Most of the studies identified in the literature search, and described here, are case reports and so represent the lowest level of evidence. In a few case-reports, congenital and acquired cholesteatoma have been shown to segregate within families in the pattern typical of a monogenic or oligogenic disorder with incomplete penetrance. Evidence from syndromic cases could suggest that genes controlling ear morphology may be risk factors for cholesteatoma formation. Conclusions: This is the first systematic review about the genetics of cholesteatoma; and we have identified a small body of relevant literature that provides evidence of a heritable component for its aetiology. Cholesteatoma is a complex and heterogeneous clinical phenotype, it is often associated with chronic otitis media and with some rare congenital syndromes known to affect ear morphology and related pathologies