Assessment of occlusal fissure depth and sealant penetration using optical coherence tomography.

Swept source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) is an interferometric imaging technique. This study aimed to assess SS-OCT as a diagnostic tool for the evaluation of occlusal fissure depth and sealant penetration into fissure. Seventy investigation sites of occlusal fissures without visible evidence of caries were categorized into four groups (smooth, shallow, intermediate, and deep fissures). Categorization utilized two methods: 1) visually, using a computer screen, and 2) using SS-OCT images. After sealant placement, penetration was observed in SS-OCT. The results obtained from SS-OCT and visual inspections were compared with those of confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM). The diagnostic power of SS-OCT was higher than that of visual inspection for fissure depth. Additionally, clear cross-sectional images of sealant penetration into fissures were observed with SS-OCT. SS-OCT can be used to evaluate fissure depth and monitor sealant penetration.

The Relationship between the Second-to-Fourth Digit Ratio and Behavioral Sexual Dimorphism in School-Aged Children.

Sexually dimorphic brain development and behavior are known to be influenced by sex hormones exposure in prenatal periods. On the other hand, second-to forth digit ratio (2D/4D) has been used as an indirect method to investigate the putative effects of prenatal exposure to androgen. In the present study, we herein investigated the relationship between gender-role play behavior and the second-to-fourth digit ratio (2D/4D), which has been used as an indirect method to investigate the putative effects of prenatal exposure to androgens, in school-aged children. Among 4981 children who became 8 years old by November 2014 and were contactable for this survey by The Hokkaido Study of Environment and Children's Health, 1631 (32.7%), who had data for 2D/4D and Pre-school Activities Inventory (PSAI) as well as data for the survey at baseline, were available for analysis. Parents sent reports of PSAI on the sex-typical characteristics, preferred toys, and play activities of children, and black and white photocopies of the left and right hand palms via mail. PSAI consisted of 12 masculine items and 12 feminine items, and a composite score was created by subtracting the feminine score from the masculine score, with higher scores representing masculine-typical behavior. While composite scores in PSAI were significantly higher in boys than in girls, 2D/4D was significantly lower in boys than in girls. Although the presence or absence of brothers or sisters affected the composite, masculine, and feminine scored of PSAI, a multivariate regression model revealed that 2D/4D negatively correlated with the composite scores of PSAI in boys, whereas no correlation was found in girls. Although 2D/4D negatively correlated with the masculine score in boys and girls, no correlation was observed between 2D/4D and the feminine score. In conclusion, although social factors, such as the existence of brother or sisters, affect dimorphic brain development and behavior in childhood, the present study revealed that the prenatal hormonal environment was an important factor influencing masculine-typical dimorphic brain development and behavior in school-aged children.