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.

Endotoxin penetration into root cementum of periodontally healthy and diseased human teeth.

This study was undertaken to determine the extent of in vitro penetration of E. coli endotoxin into the root cementum of periodontally healthy and diseased teeth. Freshly extracted teeth were washed in distilled water, scaled and divided into two groups of 16 teeth each. Nine diseased and five healthy teeth in the first group were immersed in various concentrations of E. coli endotoxin for 2 to 12 weeks. They were then prepared for indirect immunofluorescence examination after treatment with anti-endotoxin antibody and rhodamine conjugated secondary antibody. Teeth in the second group were prepared for autoradiographic examination by immersing nine diseased and five healthy teeth in tritium labelled E. coli endotoxin for 2 to 12 weeks. The latter technique also allowed for semi-quantitative study of the depth of endotoxin penetration by creating facets on the root at various depths after endotoxin exposure. This technique was also used to investigate the strength of endotoxin binding to the tooth surface by brushing for 1 minute and re-examining the tooth for the presence of endotoxin. Controls included periodontally diseased and healthy teeth. Results of the study showed that (1) endotoxin adheres to the tooth surface without penetration into the root cementum of either periodontally healthy or diseased teeth, and (2) the binding of the endotoxin to the root surface appears to be weak.