Publications

AIM: Despite the widespread availability of online information about dental veneers, there is a lack of data on the quality and readability of these resources. The aim of this study was to assess the quality and readability of patient-oriented online information on dental veneers.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study conducted a thorough web search utilizing Google, Yahoo, and Bing search engines to identify English-language websites offering information on dental veneers. The quality of the websites was assessed using DISCERN, Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) benchmarks, and Health on the Net Code (HONcode) tools. The readability of the websites was evaluated using the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL), Simplified Measure of Gobbledygook (SMOG), and Flesch Reading Ease (FRE) metrics.

RESULTS: Out of a total of 195 websites included in the study, only 8 websites obtained a high overall DISCERN score, representing 2.4% of dental clinic (DC) and 14.8% of nonprofit organization (NPO) websites. The median [interquartile range (IQR)] of the overall score of DISCERN was significantly higher for NPO websites [55.5 (13)] compared to DC websites [42 (13)] and commercial entity (CE) websites [36.25 (5.5); p < 0.001]. Up to 15, 63, and 70% of NPO, DC, and CE websites, respectively, did not report any of the four JAMA criteria. Only seven websites (all NPOs) showed an active Health on the Net (HONs) Code certificate. All readability indicators confirmed easier texts on the NPO websites.

CONCLUSIONS: The quality of the English web-based health information on dental veneers seems suboptimal. Nonprofit organization websites offer higher quality, more reliable, and readable content compared to DC and CE websites.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Online dental veneer information is generally of poor quality, with NPO websites offering the most reliable and readable content. Clinicians should direct patients to trustworthy NPO resources for accurate information. How to cite this article: Alqutaibi AY, Alharbi AT, Alassaf MS, et al. Assessment of Quality and Readability of Online Patient-centered Information on Dental Veneers: An Infodemiological Study. J Contemp Dent Pract 2025;26(11):1060-1066.

This review article explores the concept of de-generacy as a fundamental yet underutilised principle in evolutionary anthropology. De-generacy, defined as structurally distinct elements performing overlapping functions, is widely recognised in genetics, neurobiology, and immunology but remains overlooked in cultural evolution. Distinguishing de-generacy from redundancy-where identical structures fulfill the same role-is crucial for understanding adaptability, resilience, and innovation in both biological and cultural systems. Despite its explanatory potential, de-generacy has been largely absent from anthropological discourse due to historical baggage and terminological confusion. The misuse of "degeneracy" in colonial and eugenic narratives has hindered its application, even as contemporary evolutionary theory-particularly the Extended Evolutionary Synthesis-highlights structural variation as a driver of adaptive complexity. Consequently, an opportunity to refine methodologies in anthropological research, particularly in modelling cultural transmission, has been overlooked. De-generacy is a distributed property of complex adaptive systems that, in many circles of science, has been hidden in plain sight, overlooked because of a reductionist bias, and ignored because the term itself is misleading. This article clarifies the distinction between de-generacy and redundancy and demonstrates its significance in biological anthropology. Empirical examples illustrate degeneracy across multiple domains, including linguistic variation, kinship terminologies, and ritual practices. A comparative case study of Indonesian Silek and Brazilian Capoeira provides a snapshot of how structurally distinct yet functionally similar cultural formations emerge across diverse contexts. These examples reinforce de-generacy as a key explanatory principle in cultural resilience and transformation. By integrating degeneracy into evolutionary anthropology, this article advances a more nuanced understanding of cultural transmission and transformation. Recognising structurally diverse yet functionally coherent practices enhances models of cultural evolution, moving beyond strictly adaptationist explanations. Ultimately, degeneracy provides a robust conceptual tool for analysing variation, complexity, and persistence in human evolutionary systems, warranting greater attention in interdisciplinary research.

Chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) refers to a decline in cognitive function in patients during and after cancer treatment and is mainly associated with the use of cytotoxic chemotherapy (CT). As CT is still an essential component in the treatment of many cancers and taking into account the fact that cancer survival rates are increasing, CRCI may negatively impact the quality of life and working capacity of a growing number of individuals, especially those treated with curative intent in conditions such as breast cancer. There is still a need to address several issues related to CRCI, namely: the improved identification of risk factors, earlier diagnosis, more effective treatment strategies and prevention. Currently, the diagnosis relies on a multidisciplinary evaluation using neuropsychological tests, and rehabilitation remains the only treatment option available. A better understanding of the pathophysiological basis of CRCI is essential to improve the daily care and long-term outcomes of these patients.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to identify key aspects of health-related quality of life in women with locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) and analyse their links to factors and treatment modalities.

METHOD: A cross-sectional study was conducted from August to October 2023 in Ulin Regional Public Hospital, Banjarmasin, Indonesia, involving LABC women whose quality of life (QoL) was assessed using Quality-of-Life Questionnaire Breast Cancer 23. Data were analysed using ANOVA, independent t-tests for parametric data, Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests for non-parametric data and significant variables (p < 0.05) included in a final regression model for identifying predictors.

RESULTS: Of 100 participants (mean age 50 years), most had low education levels (41%), were unemployed (74%) and had stage IIIB cancer. Body image score was the highest, while systemic therapy side effect was the lowest. Better sexual enjoyment was reported in post-menopausal women (p = 0.043), those with higher education (p = 0.036) and married individuals (p = 0.021). Higher economic status was associated with better sexual enjoyment (p = 0.008) and fewer breast symptoms (p = 0.011); however, economic status was negatively associated with employment status (p = 0.043). Worsening arm symptoms were associated with prolonged illness (p = 0.022). Surgical intervention was associated with higher body image (p = 0.010) and lower systemic side effects (p = 0.023). Traditional medicine was associated with lower arm symptoms (p = 0.026). Economic/occupational status explained 10.5% of sexual functioning scores.

CONCLUSION: Poor QoL in LABC patients overall was associated with low sociodemographic conditions, late presentation and chemotherapy-related side effects.

Cervical cancer is the gynecological malignancy that ranks third worldwide. It consists histologically of multiple subtypes, such as squamous cell carcinoma, which is the most common (65%), then adenocarcinoma (15%) and other types such as neuroendocrine, adenosquamous and carcinosarcoma tumours, which are less common. According to the World Health Organisation, lymphoepithelioma-type carcinoma has been described as an uncommon subtype and a variant of squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix. Its pathogenesis is related to the presence of the human Epstein-Barr virus and human papillomavirus. We present the case of a woman diagnosed with squamous cell lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of the cervix that was comprehensively managed with radical hysterectomy alone, presenting a good response and without recurrence.

BACKGROUND: The first population-based cancer registries (PBCRs) in Bihar state, India was established at Muzaffarpur by the Tata Memorial Centre (TMC), Mumbai. This article presents the cancer burden, its pattern for the years 2018-2021 and population-based survival for the years 2018 cases followed till 2023.

METHODS: The registry follows an active method of case finding which includes visits to the hospital, diagnostic and treatment facilities centres, birth and death registration office. Cases were collected through village visit, community interaction and verbal autopsy. After quality and consistency checks by senior staff of TMC, Mumbai; data are entered into the CanReg5 software. The cancer registry has faced several challenges in data collection, such as poor maintenance of medical records noncooperation of the hospital and patient's relatives reluctant to share the cancer case information. Most patients travel long distances for diagnosis and treatment. The challenges faced by the registry were overcome with the help of the administrative support of the district authorities.The rates were calculated using standard registry methods. The survival of 2018 incidence cases (followed till 31st December 2023) was calculated by using the Kaplan-Meier and Pohar Perme method.

RESULTS: In the period 2018-2021, a total of 2,916 cancer cases (Male: 1,436 (49.2%) and Female: 1,480 (50.7%)) were registered. The incidence rates for males and females were 40.2 and 46.8 per 100,000 population, respectively. Whereas 2,076 cancer deaths (Male: 1,049 (50.5%) and Female: 1,027 (49.5%)) were registered and mortality rates were 29.6 and 32.6 per 100,000 for males and females, respectively. The leading cancer sites for males are mouth (AAR 6.0), tongue (2.6), prostate (2.0), gallbladder (1.9), liver (1.6); and for females, breast (11.1), cervix uteri (6.3), gallbladder (5.2), lung (1.9) and ovary (1.6).Among men, 5-year age-standardised relative survival (age 0-74 years) of mouth, prostate and tongue cancer cases were 25.59%, 30.41% and 31.90%, respectively. Similarly, among females, it was 32.39% of breast, 20.73% of cervix uteri. None of the gallbladder cases survived after 3 year and 5 years of diagnosis.

CONCLUSION: The population-based cancer registry has successfully generated good-quality data, which can be utilised to plan cancer control programs, enhance the infrastructure for cancer care and facilitate etiological research in this population. Given the poor survival of leading sites in Muzaffarpur, emphasis must be laid on strengthening effective cancer control strategies for these cancers.Due to several challenges faced by the registry, we have noted underreporting. In the coming years, due to improvements in the infrastructure and raising awareness about the use of registry data in planning cancer care services, we are expecting an improvement in cancer registration.

Presaccadic attention enhances visual perception at the upcoming saccade target location. While this enhancement is often described as obligatory and temporally stereotyped, recent studies indicate that its strength varies depending on saccade direction. Here, we investigated whether the time course of presaccadic attention also differs across saccade directions. Participants performed a two-alternative forced-choice orientation discrimination task during saccade preparation. Tilt angles were individually titrated in a fixation baseline condition to equate task difficulty across the upper and lower vertical meridians. Sensitivity was then assessed at different time points relative to saccade onset and cue onset, allowing us to characterize the temporal dynamics of attentional enhancement. We found that presaccadic attention built up faster and reached higher levels preceding downward than upward saccades. Linear model fits revealed significant slope differences but no differences in intercepts, suggesting that the observed asymmetries reflect differences in attentional deployment during saccade preparation rather than preexisting differences in sensitivity. Saccade parameters did not account for these asymmetries. Our findings demonstrate that the temporal dynamics of presaccadic attention vary with saccade direction, which may be a potential mechanism underlying previously observed differences in presaccadic benefit at the upper and lower vertical meridians. This temporal flexibility challenges the view of a uniform presaccadic attention mechanism and suggests that presaccadic attentional deployment is shaped by movement goals. Our results provide new insights into how the visual and oculomotor systems coordinate under direction-specific demands.

Spatial attention and eye movements jointly contribute to efficient sampling of visual information in the environment, but maintaining precise spatial attention across saccades becomes challenging due to the drastic retinal shifts. Previous studies have provided evidence that spatial attention may remap imperfectly across saccades, incurring systematic feature inference with ongoing perception, yet the role of saccade predictability remains largely untested. In the current study, we investigated whether spatiotemporal predictability of saccades influences postsaccadic remapping and feature perception. In two preregistered experiments, we implemented the postsaccadic feature report paradigm and manipulated spatiotemporal predictability of saccades. Experiment 1 manipulated spatial and temporal saccade predictability together, whereas Experiment 2 dissociated the roles of spatial and temporal predictability in separate conditions. In addition to spatial and temporal saccade predictability both improving general task performance, we found that spatial saccade predictability specifically modulated postsaccadic feature interference. When saccades were spatially unpredictable, "swap errors" occurred at the early postsaccadic time point, where participants misreported the retinotopic color instead of the spatiotopic target color. However, the swapping errors were reduced when saccades were made spatially predictable. These results suggest that systematic feature interference associated with postsaccadic remapping is malleable to expectations of the upcoming saccade target location, highlighting the role of predictions in maintaining perceptual stability across saccades.

AIM: This study evaluated the amount of bone regeneration and its microarchitectural integrity in peri-implant gaps in rabbits treated with one of the following approaches: Bovine bone combined with hyaluronic acid (HyA), bovine bone alone, or left untreated as an empty defect.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty adult male New Zealand White rabbits were included in this study. In each group (n = 10), a critical bone defect (6 mm diameter × 4 mm depth) was surgically prepared using a trephine bur under copious saline irrigation in the femoral condyle bone. A dental implant was subsequently placed into each defect. The peri-implant defects were left untreated (no biomaterial), filled with bovine bone alone, and filled with bovine bone combined with (HyA) in groups I, II, and III, respectively. All rabbits were randomly selected for euthanasia after 2 months, implant stability, and marginal bone loss (MBL) were evaluated. Then, the bone samples were processed for histological analysis.

RESULTS: The highest Implant stability after 2 months was recorded with the group bovine bone combined with HyA (74.69 ± 0.75), followed by the bovine bone alone group (70.25 ± 0.82), and the lowest implant stability in a control group (65.10 ± 0.77), (p < 0.001*), which was supported by a significant difference in MBL between groups (p < 0.001*). The highest MBL was measured in the control group (0.63 ± 0.15). The percentage of newly formed bone in the grafted groups was significantly higher compared to the control group (4.10 ± 0.14) (p < 0.05), as measured by histomorphometry.

CONCLUSION: The combination of HyA with bovine bone exhibits a combined effect promoting bone regeneration and graft replacement. This approach enhances osseointegration of the implant.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The use of HyA in conjunction with bovine bone improves both the rate and quality of newly formed bone potentially increase the osseointegration of the implant and reducing alveolar ridge resorption. How to cite this article: Dakhil R, Abdulrahman M, Kandil I, et al. Evaluation of Hyaluronic Acid in Addition to Xenograft Material in Treatment of Peri-implant Bony Defects in Immediate Implant Placement: An Animal Study. J Contemp Dent Pract 2025;26(9):876-882.