Academic clinician frontline-worker wellbeing and resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic experience: Were there gender differences?

Prior research suggests COVID-19 has amplified stress on Academic Clinician Frontline-Workers (ACFW). The aim of this paper is: (1) to better understand the experiences of ACFW during the COVID-19 pandemic including their mental-emotional wellbeing, academic productivity, clinical experiences, and (2) to examine any gender differences. A cross-sectional survey was administered to University of Minnesota/M Health Fairview systems' faculty February-June 2021. Of the 291 respondents, 156 were clinicians, with 91 (58 %) identifying as Frontline-Workers (ACFW). Faculty wellbeing was assessed using validated measures in addition to measures of productivity and sociodemographics. For example, ACFW reported a higher Work-Family Conflict (WFC) scores compared to non-ACFW (26.5 vs. 24.1, p = 0.057) but did not report higher Family-Work Conflict (FWC) scores (17.7 vs. 16.3, p = 0.302). Gender sub-analyses, revealed that women ACFW compared to men ACFW reported higher WFC scores (27.7 vs. 24.1, p = 0.021) and FWC (19.3 vs. 14.3, p = 0.004). Academically, ACFW reported submitting fewer grants and anticipated delays in promotion and tenure due to the COVID-19 (p = 0.035). Results suggest COVID-19 has exacerbated ACFW stress and gender inequities. Reports of anticipated delay in promotion for ACFW may pose a challenge for the long-term academic success of ACFW, especially women ACFW. In addition, women may experience higher FWC and WFC as compared to men. Schools of academic medicine should consider re-evaluating promotion/tenure processes and creating resources to support women ACFW as well as ACFW caregivers.

Are emergency department patients at risk for herb-drug interactions?

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of herbal and/or dietary supplement use and identify patients at risk for herb-drug interactions. METHODS: A convenience sample of 944 patients were surveyed to determine the prevalence and types of supplements used. Patients with heart disease, diabetes, psychiatric disorders, and/or hypertension were assessed for potential interactions. RESULTS: One hundred thirty-five (14.3%) patients reported regular use. Of these, 79.3% were taking supplements concurrently with prescription medications, and 80.0% were administered medication(s) in the emergency department. Cardiac: 19.8% (n = 33) reported regular use, with four potential interactions. Hypertension: 20.3% (n = 54) reported regular use, with two potential interactions. Diabetes: 15.9% (n = 20) reported regular use, with no known interactions. Psychiatric: 15.9% (n = 10) reported regular use, with one potential interaction. CONCLUSIONS: Six patients were identified at risk for seven known herb-drug interactions. The prevalence of undisclosed herbal supplement use and lack of research on these supplements suggest that more patients may be at risk.

Effect of vomeronasal organ removal on behavioral estrus and mating latency in female meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus).

The vomeronasal organ (VNO) mediates the induction of behavioral estrus in prairie voles by male chemosignals; however, the importance of this system for the initiation of estrus in meadow voles, a species in which spontaneous estrus has been postulated, is unknown. This experiment was designed to investigate the influence of VNO-mediated chemosensory information on behavioral estrus in meadow voles housed in photoperiods simulating summer (long photoperiods; 14L:10D) and winter (short photoperiods; 10L:14D). The VNO was removed from nulliparous female meadow voles, and the percentage of animals mating after removal and the timing of mating onset were assessed. Removal of the organ did not suppress mating or change the timing of mating onset in females housed in short photoperiods. In animals housed in long photoperiods, in contrast, removal of the organ significantly increased the percentage of females mating and the percentage of females mating rapidly after pairing. The results indicate that chemosensory information mediated via the VNO is not necessary for the induction of behavioral estrus in meadow voles and lends support to the hypothesis that meadow voles have a spontaneous estrus. We postulate that polygynous, solitary meadow voles reproduce more effectively with spontaneous estrus than with the induced estrus described for monogamous, group-living prairie voles.

Seasonal movements in a salt glacier in iran.

The philosophy of the storage of high-grade radioactive wastes in salt seems to be based on the assumption that the salt glaciers of Iran are no longer moving. Monitoring the movements of markers painted onto one of the salt glaciers suggests that the glacier deforms elastically as a result of temperature changes most of the time but flows plastically when it is sufficiently wet during each annual rainy season.