Assessment of some heavy metals and physicochemical properties in surface soils of municipal open waste dumpsite in Yenagoa, Nigeria

The current study was designed for the assessment of lead, cadmium and chromium and some physicochemical properties of soils collected from an open dumpsite in Yenagoa, Nigeria. Surface soil samples at two depths (0-10 and 10-20 cm) were randomly collected at the dump field and control site, and were analyzed for physicochemical parameters and contamination by lead, chromium and cadmium using standard analytical methods. The results show that the main dumpsite had higher sand (>80.0%) and lower clay and silt contents than the control site. Soil mean pH varied between 4.89±0.05 in the control and 7.60±0.02 in the dump. Total nitrogen (N) content of the dump soils ranged from 0.06±0.07 to 0.24±0.09% and is slightly higher than that of the control soil. This is reflected in the high value of organic matter (4.71±0.85%) in dump soils. Available P was quite high ranging from 35.00±1.01 to 84.20±1.02 mg/kg. Cation exchange capacity (CEC) varied between 12.98±0.31 and 91.07±0.11 cmol kg−1. ECEC levels were moderate to high ranging from 14.10±0.10 to 91.47±0.11 cmol/kg. All the soil samples had very high base saturation (>90.0%) and exchangeable Ca, Mg, K and Na, far above the critical levels set by FAO for agricultural soil. Average levels of Pb ranged from 14.75±0.05 to 16.14±0.04 mg/kg in the dump and 8.35±0.05 to 8.78±0.07 mg/kg in the control. Mean concentration of Cr in the dump soil varied between 0.05±0.01 and 0.06±0.01 mg/kg, and is slightly higher than the control (0.005±0.01 mg/kg), while Cd was found in trace amounts (<0.0001±0.01 mg/kg). These values are all far below the maximum tolerable levels set by FAO and WHO for agricultural soil. It is suggested that the dumpsite and the control area with their adequate soil nutrients and low levels of metals should eventually be converted to agricultural farmland. No remediation is needed at this time.Keywords: Dump waste soil, heavy metal, soil fertility

A preliminary study of psychological pain among patients attending the dental clinic of a tertiary hospital

Objective: Dental practitioners frequently encounter individuals who suffer from psychological pain at the dental clinics. Most dentists do not have the training or the instrument to recognise and manage psychological pain associated with dental treatment. This study was carried out to determine the level of psychological pain among dental patients visiting the dental clinic of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria. Method: One hundred and twenty five patients who attended the dental clinic of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria were invited to take part in the study. They completed a sociodemographic questionnaire, Psychache Scale (PAS) and the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HARS) in order to determine their levels of psychological pain and anxiety. Result: Of the total respondents, 43% were males and 57% females, mean age 30.2 years (SD=10.7, ranging from 15-80), 74.2% were married and 22.5% single. With regards to psychological pain and anxiety, 31.9% scored high in the PAS, indicating probable psychological pain while 25.8%, 19.4% and 54.8% were detected to suffer from mild, moderate and severe anxiety as detected by HARS. Conclusion: The finding from this study demonstrated that Nigerian dental patients also suffer from psychological pain and various degrees of dental anxiety. Therefore there is a need for Nigerian dental surgeons to acquire some knowledge of mental health in order to recognise these psychopathologies among their patients.Keywords: Psychological pain, anxiety, dental patients, NigeriaNig Dent J Vol 20 No. 1 Jan - June 201

The Prevalence of Dental Anxiety and Validation of the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale in a Sample of Nigerian Population

Dental anxiety has been reported to be of global public health concern. In Nigeria, not much work has been documented on dental anxiety. The objectives of this study were to estimate the prevalence of dental anxiety and determine the reliability and validity of the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) in screening for dental anxiety among Nigerian adult dental patients. One hundred and ninety adult participants were invited to complete a sociodemographic questionnaire, Modified Dental Anxiety Scale and Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale in order to determine the prevalence, internal consistency and concurrent validity of the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale. The mean score of the MDAS was 11.0 (SD = 6.1) and the scores ranged from 5-25. Of the total 190 participants, 60 (48.6%) scored above the cut-off score of 11. The internal consistency of the MDAS was 0.90 (95% CI = 0.94-0.97). The MDAS correlated well with HARS; the concurrent validity coefficient of 0.58 was obtained. (r = 0.90, p<0-0001). At normative cut-off score of 11.0, MDAS sensitivity was 0.8 and specificity 0.85. These psychometric findings showed that the MDAS has good internal consistency as well as good concurrent validity coefficient. Because of its reliability, validity, brevity and ease of administration, the MDAS is considered a useful instrument for measuring dental anxiety among Nigerians.Keywords: Prevalence, Reliability, Validity, Modified Dental Anxiety ScaleNigerian Medical Practitioner Vol. 62 No 5-6, 201

Psychological distress and job involvement among dental surgeons in Lagos, Nigeria.

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Efficacy of Glucosomine Iontophoresis in knee osteoarthritis

Iontophoresis is a means of administering medicinal ions in the management of a variety of medical conditions. It is becoming an alternative to oral and injection delivery system of drugs because it is non-invasive, non traumatic and painless and it is specific in drug administration. The purpose of this study was to compare the relative efficacy of glucosamine iontophoresis with that of massage and a control group in managing osteoarthritic knee pain. Fifteen subjects with radiological evidence of knee osteoarthritis participated in this study. Participants were randomly assigned into three (3) groups; with five (5) each in iontophoresis, massage and the control groups but only 3 participants completed the treatment procedures in the control group. All treatment groups received baseline treatment of infrared radiation for 15mins followed by quadriceps strengthening exercise with a 10lbs weight for 10 repetitions. Treatments were carried out three times a week for four weeks. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The result of the ANOVA showed that there was significant reduction in pain in the three (3) groups (F=21.97,