A qualitative exploration of the psychological impacts of living with the uncertainty of persistent flood risk.

OBJECTIVES: Flooding is associated with increased psychological morbidity; however, the impact of living with the uncertainty of flood risk has not been explored. The aim of this study was to generate insight into individual experiences of living with persistent flood risk, how it affects psychological well-being, and the forms of support deemed appropriate to mitigate psychological risks. STUDY DESIGN: A qualitative study was conducted using semistructured interviews with participants who lived in a persistent flood risk area in Nottinghamshire, UK. METHODS: 40 participants were interviewed. The study adopted an interpretivist constructionist position, and the transcripts were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. RESULTS: Persistent flood risk was seen as a significant stressor, regardless of previous flood history. Some participants reported anxiety in anticipation of a future flood event and demonstrated low self-efficacy, with subsequent feelings of helplessness in responding to flood risk. Individuals who lacked acceptance of flood risk displayed higher anxiety and lower resilience. Recognition of flood risk as a psychological stressor was requested in future support. CONCLUSIONS: Living with the uncertainty of persistent flood risk can have significant psychological impacts. Interventions that facilitate the empowerment of individuals living with persistent flood risk may strengthen psychological resilience.

Heat stress of gilts around farrowing causes oxygen insufficiency in the umbilical cord and reduces piglet survival.

Late gestating sows are susceptible to high ambient temperatures, possibly causing farrowing complications and reducing piglet survival. This experiment aimed to quantify in the days leading up to farrowing the impact of sow heat stress (HS) on farrowing physiology and survival of the piglets. Pregnant primiparous sows (gilts) were allocated to either thermoneutral control (CON, n = 8; constant 20 °C) or cyclical HS conditions (n = 8; 0900 h to 1700 h, 30 °C; 1700 h to 0900 h, 28 °C) from d 110 of gestation until farrowing completion. Gilt respiration rate, skin temperature and rectal temperature were recorded daily, and farrowing duration was quantified by video analyses. Blood samples were collected from the piglet umbilical vein at birth. At 48 h of age, piglet growth was quantified by morphometric analyses. The thermal exposure model induced HS and respiratory alkalosis in the gilts, as indicated by increased respiration rate, rectal temperature, skin temperature (all P < 0.001), plasma cortisol (P = 0.01) and blood pH (P < 0.001). Heat-stressed gilts took longer to start expelling placentae (P = 0.003), although the active farrowing duration was not significantly different between treatments. Stillbirth rates were higher in the HS group (P < 0.001), with surviving piglets at birth having lower umbilical vein partial pressure of oxygen (P = 0.04), oxygen saturation rate (P = 0.03) and tending to have increased lactate concentrations (P = 0.07). At birth, piglet skin meconium staining scores were greater in the HS group (P = 0.022). At 48 h of age, piglets from the HS group had reduced small intestinal length (P = 0.02), reduced jejunal crypt depth (P = 0.02) and lighter absolute brain weight (P = 0.001). In contrast, piglet BW, growth rate, relative organ weight and small intestinal mucosal barrier function did not change between treatments. Collectively, these findings demonstrated gilt HS during late gestation caused farrowing complications and reduced the umbilical oxygen supply to the piglets at parturition, leading to increased risks of piglet stillbirth with implications on impaired neonatal survivability and development.

Heterogeneity of enterochromaffin cells within the gastrointestinal tract.

Enterochromaffin cells were the first endocrine cells of the gastrointestinal tract to be chemically distinguished, almost 150 years ago. It is now known that the chromaffin reaction of these cells was due to their content of the reactive aromatic amine, 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT, also known as serotonin). They have commonly been thought to be a special class of gut endocrine cells (enteroendocrine cells) that are distinct from the enteroendocrine cells that contain peptide hormones. The study by Martin et al. in the current issue of this journal reveals that the patterns of expression of nutrient receptors and transporters differ considerably between chromaffin cells of the mouse duodenum and colon. However, even within regions, chromaffin cells differ; in the duodenum there are chromaffin cells that contain both secretin and 5-HT, cholecystokinin and 5-HT, and all three of secretin, cholecystokinin, and 5-HT. Moreover, the ratios of these different cell types differ substantially between species. And, in terms of function, 5-HT has many roles, including in appetite, motility, fluid secretion, release of digestive enzymes and bone metabolism. The paper thus emphasizes the need to define the many different classes of enterochromaffin cells and relate this to their roles.