Bioarchaeological studies have found that, in general, the adoption of agriculture is associated with deteriorating oral health, most frequently manifested as an increase in the prevalence of dental caries. However, compared to other regions of the world, bioarchaeological studies focusing on prehistoric Europe have produced more variable results, with different populations experiencing deteriorations, improvements, and stasis in oral health. This study assesses the oral health of individuals of the Tripolye culture buried in Verteba Cave, Ukraine, within the context of the transition to agriculture in Eastern Europe. We compare the rates of dental caries between Tripolye farmers with earlier hunter-fisher-gatherers from Ukraine. The Tripolye were found to have carious lesions on 9.5 per cent of teeth, while the hunter-fisher-gatherers were found to be universally free of carious lesions. A Fisher's exact test demonstrates that this difference is statistically significant, supporting the model that the transition to agriculture was detrimental to oral health in prehistoric Ukraine. This could be related to the manner in which grain was processed by the Tripolye and the needs of their relatively population-dense society.
Purpose of Review Differences of sexual development (DSD) have significant implications on a child’s health and quality of life. Traditionally, DSD have been treated with early surgical intervention; however, physicians, researchers, and advocates are increasingly working towards balancing medical indications, psychological implications, and necessary ethical questions. Despite the rapid evolution of DSD management, the latest recommendations call for shared decision-making (SDM) but fail to highlight ethical issues or practices that respect the rights of pediatric patients. Recent Findings Since the most recent DSD treatment guidelines, published in the 2006 Consensus Statement, research further defines the best SDM for the treatment of DSD as comprising the cooperation of a multidisciplinary team working with patients’ parents. The collaboration of various experts and well-informed parents will expectantly improve the current issues in treatment including excessive rates of unjustified gonadectomies, removal of genital structures, and loss of fertility among patients with DSD. Despite recent research, the psychological impact of early surgical intervention remains inconclusive, but studies highlight the strong need for early and continuous psychological treatment starting with incorporating psychiatrists in the SDM team. Additionally, medical ethics question the legality of performing irreversible medical treatments on patients who cannot consent on their own and the ability of parents and physicians to engage in an effective decision-making process. As a result, many medical and government organizations have called for the elimination of early invasive treatment whereas surgeons and researchers are developing new techniques to preserve genital structures and fertility while correcting medically necessary aspects of DSD. Summary This narrative review discusses the progress made since 2006 considering malignancy risks, fertility, urogenital function, psychiatric management, parental consent, patient autonomy, decision-making ability, and communication effectiveness. The authors also highlight areas that require further improvement and propose next steps in improving care for individuals with DSD.
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