Women who lose a spouse get healthier, men who lose a spouse crash; microplastics and prostate cancer; an algorithm to manage hypertension; plus other stories with Vanderbilt Health sources

Women’s Health interviewed Aaron Brinen, PsyD, assistant professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, for a story about a study that found widowed men experienced increased depressive symptoms and hopelessness and decreased happiness during the first year after a spousal loss, while widowed women showed no increase in depressive symptoms and reported increased happiness and life satisfaction later. 

Men’s Health interviewed Jeffrey Tosoian, MD, assistant professor of Urology, for a story about a pilot study presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s Genitourinary Cancers Symposium that found microplastics in 9 out of 10 patients with prostate cancer.

SFGATE reporter Gillian Mohney interviewed Matthew Alexander, MD, PhD, assistant professor of Medicine in the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, for a story about a UCSF study on an algorithm used to help manage hypertension.

SELF magazine reporter Korin Miller interviewed Caitlyn Mooney, MD, assistant professor, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, for a story about new research that found an association between people who use pre-workout supplements and lower levels of sleep. 

William Schaffner, MD, professor of Preventive Medicine, was quoted by several news outlets about public health issues, including Contagion Live (childhood vaccine schedules); ABC News and Scientific American (meningitis outbreak in the U.K.); CBS News (polio advisory for travelers); and AARP (shingles).

Anita K. Pai, MD, associate professor of Pediatrics at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, spoke with WSMV Channel 4 News about biliary atresia, a rare condition diagnosed in newborns that can lead to the need for liver transplantation.

WPLN Nashville Public Radio interviewed David Haynes, MD, professor of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, about treating musician John Anderson’s hearing loss.

Endocrine Today covered the story about the FDA’s approval of an expanded indication for IMCIVREE (setmelanotide) for patients with acquired hypothalamic obesity, making it the first and only FDA-approved therapy for this rare chronic condition, quoting Ashley Shoemaker, MD, associate professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Pediatric Endocrinology. Healio also picked up the story and quoted Shoemaker in its article.