Publications by authors named "Sacks G"

Article Synopsis
  • This study investigates early recurrence in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) derived from intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN), aiming to identify predictors to help guide patient management.
  • The research found that early recurrence is defined as occurring within 10.5 months post-surgery, affecting 38% of patients who experienced recurrence, with CA19-9 levels and N2 disease being significant predictors.
  • Adjuvant chemotherapy showed a survival advantage only for high-risk patients, highlighting the importance of risk stratification for better treatment outcomes.
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Background: The National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines consider pancreatic cancer with celiac axis (CA), proper hepatic artery (PHA), and superior mesenteric artery (SMA) involvement unresectable. Thus, technical reports and video illustrations of these operations are rare. We report the stepwise management of multivascular reconstruction for Mayo Clinic class IIIb CA resections at New York University Langone Health, a dedicated center of excellence in pancreatic surgery.

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Background: The existence of sociodemographic disparities in pancreatic cancer has been well-studied but how these disparities have changed over time is unclear. The purpose of this study was to longitudinally assess patient management in the context of sociodemographic factors to identify persisting disparities in pancreatic cancer care.

Methods: Using the National Cancer Database, patients diagnosed with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma from 2010 to 2017 were identified.

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Promoting healthy eating and physical activity in early childhood education and care (ECEC) is recommended within guidelines and supported by health promotion programs; however, implementation is suboptimal. Evidence suggests implementation within the sector varies over time; however, this has not been empirically examined in relation to implementation barriers. This study aims to: (1) describe changes in the prevalence of, and barriers to, implementation of priority healthy eating and physical activity practices; and (2) explore the associations between such barriers and implementation.

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A key driver of obesity and diet-related illness globally has been the increased consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs). This paper aimed to identify the key actors, structures, incentives, and dynamics that characterize the global UPF system and have led to the dominance of UPFs in population diets. Based on a narrative review and using a systems thinking approach, we developed a causal loop diagram (CLD) of the global UPF system.

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Objectives: To evaluate patient preferences for decision-making role in the management of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) of the pancreas and to identify individual characteristics associated with those preferences.

Background: Management of IPMNs is rooted in uncertainty with current guidelines failing to incorporate patients' preferences and values.

Methods: A representative sample of participants aged 40-70 were recruited to evaluate a clinical vignette where they were given the option to undergo surveillance or surgical resection of their IPMN.

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Purpose: Dynamics of carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) often inform treatment decisions during and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAT) of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). However, considerable dispute persists regarding the clinical relevance of specific CA19-9 thresholds and dynamics. Therefore, we aimed to define optimal thresholds for CA19-9 values and create a biochemically driven composite score to predict survival in CA19-9-producing patients with PDAC after NAT.

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Background: Online food delivery (OFD) platforms offer easy access to an abundance of energy-dense and nutrient-poor takeaway foods and may exacerbate existing unhealthy food environments. Efforts to improve population diets include a range of policy recommendations focused on improving the healthiness of food environments; however, the way in which such policies may apply to OFD platforms is not clear. This paper aimed to synthesise the existing evidence to inform nutrition-related policies applicable to OFD platforms for population health and well-being.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study aimed to establish a cancer risk threshold (CRT) for patients with branch-duct intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (BD-IPMNs) to determine when surgery is preferable to surveillance.
  • A decision model was used to assess the quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) for hypothetical patients with varying factors like age, comorbidities, and lesion location.
  • Results indicated that surgery was slightly favored over surveillance in a typical case, with the CRT differing based on patient specifics, suggesting a need for personalized treatment guidelines.
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Objective: In this paper, we examined whether there are inequalities in access to food retail (by type and healthiness) across local government areas (LGA) in Greater Melbourne and by LGA grouped based on their distance from the central business district and Growth Area designation. We also examined whether these inequalities persisted over time.

Design: This is a secondary analysis of a repeated cross-sectional census of food outlets collected at four time points (2008, 2012, 2014 and 2016) across 31 LGA.

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Article Synopsis
  • This study explored how children's exposure to sugary beverage advertisements changed during the COVID-19 pandemic across six countries: Australia, Canada, Chile, Mexico, the UK, and the US.
  • Researchers surveyed nearly 29,000 children aged 10-17 from 2019 to 2021 to assess their advertising exposure, screen time, and sugary beverage intake.
  • Findings indicated that while exposure to sugary beverage ads remained stable overall, there was a significant increase in digital ad exposure and a notable shift away from retail ad settings, especially among children attending classes online.
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A relatively small number of for-profit asset managers-financial intermediaries that invest capital on behalf of other investors-have emerged in recent decades to become some of the most influential commercial actors in the global political economy. Despite their important role in society, asset managers have received little attention from a public health perspective. In this article, we aimed to propose a conceptual framework of potential pathways and mechanisms through which asset managers may influence health and equity.

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Background And Methods: Competition regulation has a strong influence on the relative market power of firms. As such, competition regulation can complement industry-specific measures designed to address harms associated with excessive market power in harmful consumer product industries. This study aimed to examine, through a public health lens, assessments and decisions made by competition authorities in four jurisdictions (Australia, South Africa, the United States (US), and the European Union (EU)) involving three harmful consumer product industries (alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, tobacco).

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Objective: Local governments have an important role to play in creating healthy, equitable and environmentally sustainable food systems. This study aimed to develop and pilot a tool and process for local governments in Australia to benchmark their policies for creating healthy, equitable and environmentally sustainable food systems.

Design: The Healthy Food Environment Policy Index (Food-EPI), developed in 2013 for national governments, was tailored to develop the Local Food Systems Policy Index (Local Food-EPI+) tool for local governments.

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The International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes and subsequent resolutions (the Code) was adopted to address increases in mortality and morbidity resulting from the practices of the breast-milk substitute (BMS) industry. The lack of success in ensuring company compliance with the Code has prompted advocates to consider engaging with investors to shape the governance of BMS companies. To support these efforts, this paper aimed to identify prominent investors in the global BMS industry and explore their Code-related policies and practices.

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Complex food retail settings, where multiple food retail outlets operate in close proximity are common. Despite their ubiquity, there remains a significant knowledge gap regarding healthy food retail interventions implemented within these settings. Furthermore, understanding the factors affecting the implementation of interventions in these settings remains limited.

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Background: Lumbar disc herniation (LDH) is a common cause of radicular pain with an annual incidence between 5 and 20 cases per 1000 adults. LDH is typically treated by microdiscectomy, of which more than 300,000 are performed in the United States each year. Despite this frequency, 25% to 33% of patients report poor surgical outcomes.

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Introduction: Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) are pancreatic premalignant lesions frequently detected incidentally. Choosing between surgery and surveillance for IPMNs is rooted in uncertainty. We characterized patient preferences in IPMN management, and examined associations with patients' uncertainty profiles (risk perception, risk attitude, and uncertainty tolerance).

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Objective: To assess the prognostic impact of margin status in patients with resected intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN)-derived pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and to inform future intraoperative decision-making on handling differing degrees of dysplasia on frozen section.

Summary Background Data: The ideal oncologic surgical outcome is a negative transection margin with normal pancreatic epithelium left behind. However, the prognostic significance of reresecting certain degrees of dysplasia or invasive cancer at the pancreatic neck margin during pancreatectomy for IPMN-derived PDAC is debatable.

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Background: Dietary risk factors are the leading cause of death globally and in New Zealand (NZ). Processed packaged foods are prevalent in the food supply and contribute excess amounts of sodium, saturated fat, and sugar in diets. Improving the nutritional quality of these foods has the potential to reduce population chronic disease risk.

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Background: Food and beverage companies play a central role in shaping the healthfulness of food environments.

Methods: The BIA-Obesity tool was used to evaluate and benchmark the specificity, comprehensiveness and transparency of the food environment-related policies and commitments of leading food and beverage manufacturing and retailing companies in Canada. Policies and commitments related to the healthfulness of food environments within 6 action areas were assessed: 1) corporate nutrition strategy; 2) product (re)formulation; 3) nutrition information and labelling; 4) product and brand promotion; 5) product accessibility; and 6) disclosure of relationships with external organizations.

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Background: Little is known about the prognostic significance of pancreatic duct (PD) dilation following pancreatoduodenectomy for intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN). Although PD dilation is typically the hallmark radiographic feature of IPMN, other causes of PD dilation exist, including anastomotic stricture, pancreatitis, senescence, and postsurgical passive dilation. Therefore, PD dilation after pancreatoduodenectomy for IPMN represents a diagnostic and management dilemma.

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Introduction: Radiation-induced peripheral neuropathy is a rare, but serious complication often resulting in profound morbidity, life-long disability, and chronic debilitating pain. Unfortunately, this type of peripheral neuropathy is usually progressive, and almost always irreversible. To date, a standardized rat model of radiation-induced peripheral neuropathy has not been established.

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