William Montelpare

The early postnatal period is a critical neurodevelopmental stage characterized by rapid neural maturation and is adversely affected by early-life stressors. This study explored the behavioural, physiological, and epigenetic consequences of early-life stress in a population of homeless rescue kittens. This longitudinal study included 50 kittens rescued and placed into foster care by the Prince Edward Island Humane Society. They underwent behavioural testing at 8, 10, and 12 weeks of age. Hair cortisol concentration was measured at 8 weeks and served as a physiological marker of the previous 3 months’ cumulative stress response, which, for these kittens, included the late gestation period. A blood sample for relative telomere length measurement was taken at 10–12 weeks to estimate epigenetic changes as young kittens. Data were analyzed with respect to age and performance in all repeated measures tests, status as a stray or a surrender, and the presence of the dam in their foster homes. As expected, the performance of kittens in all tests changed over the 5 weeks of testing. Kittens separated from their mothers exhibited significantly higher hair cortisol concentrations (p = 0.02) and elongated relative telomere lengths (p = 0.04). No correlation was found between hair cortisol concentration and relative telomere lengths (p = 0.99). These results support the need for further study on the effects of epigenetics and early-life stress, both in kittens and across species.

The early postnatal period is a critical neurodevelopmental stage characterized by rapid neural maturation and is adversely affected by early-life stressors. This study explored the behavioural, physiological, and epigenetic consequences of early-life stress in a population of homeless rescue kittens. This longitudinal study included 50 kittens rescued and placed into foster care by the Prince Edward Island Humane Society. They underwent behavioural testing at 8, 10, and 12 weeks of age. Hair cortisol concentration was measured at 8 weeks and served as a physiological marker of the previous 3 months’ cumulative stress response, which for these kittens included the late gestation period. A blood sample for relative telomere length measurement was taken at 10-12 weeks to estimate epigenetic changes as young kittens. Data were analysed with respect to age and performance in all repeated measures tests, status as a stray or a surrender, and the presence of the dam in their foster homes. As expected, performance of kittens in all tests changed over the 5 weeks of testing. Kittens separated from their mothers exhibited significantly higher hair cortisol concentrations (p = 0.02) and elongated relative telomere lengths (p = 0.04). No correlation was found between hair cortisol concentration and relative telomere lengths (p = 0.99). These results support the need for further study on the effects of epigenetics and early life stress, both in kittens and across species.

Signs of distress in dogs during veterinary visits are often normalised rather than viewed as welfare concerns. Interventions designed to reduce fear during veterinary visits were evaluated to see if they affected dogs’ behaviours compared to dogs without interventions. Twenty-eight dogs were examined at four visits across eight weeks. Dogs were randomised into intervention (distress reduction/adaptive care) and control groups (standard care) and evaluated via the Working Dog Questionnaire – Pet Dog Version (WDQ-Pet). At visit 1 (baseline) all dogs received the control protocol. Homework was assigned following visit 1 to practice collaborative examination (intervention) or to pet the dog (control) for the same allotted time. At each visit, behaviours were scored (clinical stress score) via video and in-person observations when dogs entered the hospital, stepped onto a scale to be weighed, entered the exam room, at the beginning and end of examination, and after venipuncture. There were no differences between groups at visit 1, or across visits entering the hospital or exam room. At visit 4, intervention scores either decreased or remained low when weighed, and at the beginning and end of the physical exam. Control scores were significantly higher than the intervention scores during these periods. Reduced clinical stress scores indicate intervention dogs had improved care experience compared to the control. The study results highlight the value of applying simple and adaptable interventions, ultimately leading to improved animal care and welfare.

This textbook provides a comprehensive introduction to the factors that impact physical, mental, and social well-being, offering a broad definition of health and healthcare that moves beyond the biomedical model. Stressing that health is not merely the absence of disease or infirmity, the book addresses a diverse range of issues that influence individual, community, and population health. There are chapters on the microbiome, physical activity, and lifestyle and behavior, as well as the various social determinants of health, health literacy, and issues around mental health. Defining health as a wicked problem (i.e., one that is contested and endlessly complicated) the book provides an international lens which also includes coverage of global health and the impact of climate change. Including key concepts, end-of-chapter questions, and further reading, this is the perfect introductory text for students of public health, health studies, or health sciences.

When we compare the definitions of mental health and mental illness, we see that they are not dichotomous, nor are they opposite ends of the same spectrum. Although knowledge of mental illness cannot in itself fully inform our understanding of mental health, it provides context for studying variable cognitive, emotional, and behavioral states. Further, there is value in understanding psychiatric illness to help inform prevention, early intervention, and treatment efforts. While reading this chapter, readers will explore some of the most common mental disorders, including mood disorders, anxiety disorders, substance use disorders, and comorbid conditions. Following a biopsychosocial framework, it identifies biological, psychological, and social factors known to contribute to the etiology of psychiatric disorders. Disparities in mental health reported across gender and racial minorities are examined. The chapter finishes with a focus on recovery, emphasizing that using a recovery-oriented framework, mental well-being becomes attainable for everyone – with or without a mental illness.

This chapter introduces epidemiological applications applied to understanding human health. The chapter begins with an overview of the discipline, which is then followed up with an Introduction of the experiment and a historical account of John Snow’s natural experiment. The chapter also introduces the epidemiological triad and a discussion of association versus causation, with a review of Hill’s criteria for causation. After reading this chapter, students will be able to understand and apply epidemiological methods at a basic skill level across health disciplines.

This chapter introduces planetary health and how human activity has changed the planet, the constituents of the biosphere, and the health of humanity. Here, we discuss climate change and human health and especially the effects of global warming and climate change on the physical structure of Earth, the loss of biodiversity, and the impact on the social determinants of health. Yet while we are introduced to the age of the Anthropocene and the effects of human activity within this geologic epoch, we also recognize the transformative utopian impulse for planetary health and the worldwide recognition that now is the time for positive action to make a positive change. In this chapter, the reader will be presented with progressive definitions of planetary health and climate change and will be equipped with concrete examples of how our human activities affect climates and, in turn, influence human health.

The health of the population depends on a socio-politico-economic framework that permits adequate resources and equitable distribution of resources across citizens. The quality, quantity, and dispersal of social resources (i.e., educational opportunities, employment, healthcare, access to nutritious foods, healthy environments, low-risk neighborhoods), to a large extent, determine the health of the individual and of the community. This chapter provides an extensive overview of determinants of health covered in the social health literature. An emphasis is placed on income and poverty as social determinants and research on basic income guarantee is reviewed. The COVID-19 crisis and its disproportionate effects on specific populations is used as a timely example of how socioeconomic disparities contribute to health inequities. Early childhood adversity and race/racism are also identified and described as important predictors of long-term health, drawing on examples from pivotal research in this area. After reading this chapter, the reader should recognize that an individual’s health is affected by the factors that underlie their ability to meet basic needs, that the social determinants of health are imprecise, and often, they describe broad categories of living conditions, which are shaped by societal values, and which depend on the presence of other risk and protective factors.