Research Publications
Our primary focus at The Baird Institute is to encourage and fund research to improve the surgical outcomes and quality of life for patients facing heart or lung surgery. The funds we raise go directly to research that improves the surgical procedures associated with heart and lung surgery. Improvements can include less intrusive procedures as well as techniques that improve survival rates.
Below you will find a list of publications that our surgeons and research fellows have been involved in writing.
Endoscopic and direct vision approaches in minimally-invasive mitral and tricuspid valve surgery – insights from the mini-mitral registry
Background: We investigated the international mini-mitral registry (MMIR) for differences in minimally-invasive access for surgery on the mitral and tricuspid valve. We compared direct vision with partially or fully endoscopic approaches. Methods: From 2015 to 2021, 7,513 consecutive patients underwent mini-MVR ± TVR in 17 international Heart-Valve-Centers. Data were collected according to MVARC definitions and 6463 patients…
Surgical techniques and outcomes for atrial functional mitral regurgitation: Insights from the mini mitral international registry
Objective: Evidence on optimal therapeutic strategies for atrial functional mitral regurgitation (AFMR) remains limited. This study aimed to evaluate patient characteristics, surgical techniques, and outcomes in AFMR patients from the Mini Mitral International Registry. Methods: Patients undergoing mini mitral surgery for AFMR between 2015 and 2023 were identified. Exclusion criteria included organic lesions, abnormal leaflet motion, reduced…
Association between obstructive sleep apnea and thoracic aortic diameter: a cross-sectional study in a clinical sample
Study objectives: Previous studies have suggested that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may be associated with aortic dilatation. We aimed to further characterize the association between OSA severity with thoracic aortic diameter. Methods: We evaluated 1,470 patients attending an Australian clinic during 2014-2023 and who underwent transthoracic echocardiogram followed by polysomnographic study in the following 6 months (43.7%…
Human Hearts Intrinsically Increase Cardiomyocyte Mitosis After Myocardial Infarction
Background: Myocardial infarction (MI) is a leading cause of death worldwide and can eliminate up to a third of the cardiomyocytes within the human heart. Although cardiomyocytes undergo mitosis during early development, most cardiomyocytes cease cell cycling soon after birth. In contrast, rodent MI models have shown that cardiomyocytes increase mitosis in response to ischemia; however,…
Platelet derived growth factor-AB modulates post-infarct myocardium leading to extended improvement in cardiac function
Myocardial infarction (MI) contributes to significant morbidity and mortality globally. Platelet derived growth factor-AB (PDGF-AB) is potentially a novel translational therapeutic for improving cardiac function post-MI, which we assess here using a 60 day porcine left anterior descending artery occlusion ischemia-reperfusion model. MI was induced in 10 female Landrace swine, with 5 controls, 5 receiving…
The Human Cardiac “Age-OME”: Age-Specific Changes in Myocardial Molecular Expression
Ageing is one of the most significant risk factors for heart disease; however, it is still not clear how the human heart changes with age. Taking advantage of a unique set of pre-mortem, cryopreserved, non-diseased human hearts, we performed omics analyses (transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and lipidomics), coupled with biologically informed computational modelling in younger (≤…
Endo-Aortic Balloon Occlusion versus Transthoracic Clamping in Minimally Invasive Mitral Valve Surgery.
Objectives: The present study compared the clinical outcome between endo-aortic balloon occlusion (EABO) and transthoracic clamping (TTC) in patients undergoing minimally invasive mitral valve surgery (MIMVS). Methods: All patients from the Mini-Mitral International Registry undergoing MIMVS were primarily considered for study inclusion. One-to-one nearest neighbour propensity score matching considering clinically relevant baseline covariates. The matched cohort was…
Transcriptional, proteomic and metabolic drivers of cardiac regeneration
Following injury, many organs are capable of rapid regeneration of necrotic tissue to regain normal function. In contrast, the damaged heart typically replaces tissue with a collagen-rich scar, due to the limited regenerative capacity of its functional contractile cardiomyocytes (CMs). However, this regenerative capacity varies dramatically during development and between species. Furthermore, studies have shown…
