Papers by Karen Rodriguez Torres
Revista Colombiana de Cirugía, 2018
Background and objectives: Patients with brain death (BD) due to traumatic brain injury (TBI) sec... more Background and objectives: Patients with brain death (BD) due to traumatic brain injury (TBI) secondary to a gunshot (GS) wound in the skull contribute to mitigate the demand for organ and tissue donors. In Colombia, 78% of the homicides are by GS. We describe our experience with BD secondary to TBI by GS organ and tissue donors at a transplant center in Cali, Colombia. Materials and methods: This is a retrospective historical cohort study for characterization of donors diagnosed with BD secondary to TBI by GS at our institution in the period 2010-2016 (n=169). Qualitative variables were assessed by proportions, continuous quantitative variables with measures of central tendency, and survival with
Revista científica, 2013
Diversas investigaciones sobre la enseñanza de la probabilidad han podido determinar que para las... more Diversas investigaciones sobre la enseñanza de la probabilidad han podido determinar que para las personas es difícil contar hechos en los cuales se privilegie la incertidumbre y a su vez incentive la capacidad para interpretar, comunicar y evaluar situaciones probabilísticas; esto ocurre porque la población está educada bajo la lógica determinista, la cual consiste en que el individuo siempre espere un mismo resultado, y este sea predecible, o bivalente; es decir, que corresponde a responder con un sí o un no. Se presenta un trabajo que centró la mirada en el análisis del razonamiento Bayesiano no como el hecho de utilizar algoritmos, sino como el tomar decisiones en situaciones de incertidumbre para estudiantes de básica primaria.
Free Radical Biology and Medicine, 2017
Chronic diseases, infection and physical activity are conditions related with metabolic or oxidat... more Chronic diseases, infection and physical activity are conditions related with metabolic or oxidative stress and the releasing of mitochondria to circulation by cells. This might be due to apoptosis or transference of mitochondria from one cell to another, either as survival or as tissue repair process. Circulating levels of cell-free mitochondrial DNA (ccf-mtDNA), although controversial, have been used for cancer and sepsis diagnose. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between ccf-mtDNA and metabolic syndrome. In this sense, after IRB approval, healthy subjects (n¼ 32) and adults with diabetes (n ¼6) were invited to participate. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated and fasting glucose measured as biomarker of metabolic syndrome. In addition, DNA was extracted from serum and real time PCR used to detect ccf-mtDNA and both parameters were compared. Our data showed that ccf-mtDNA values ranged from 10 to 100 ng/ml in subjects with normal BMI while there were no detectable levels of ccf-mtDNA in samples from overweight subjects and diabetic patients. Glucose levels did not show differences independently of their BMI, but there was an inverse relationship between ccf-mtDNA and BMI. In conclusion, our results suggest that ccf-mtDNA might represent an early biomarker to identify people with metabolic syndrome or at risk for future develpment of diabetes.
Scientific reports, Jan 27, 2017
The underlying molecular mechanisms of how dysregulated microRNAs (miRNAs) cause neurodegeneratio... more The underlying molecular mechanisms of how dysregulated microRNAs (miRNAs) cause neurodegeneration after traumatic brain injury (TBI) remain elusive. Here we analyzed the biological roles of approximately 600 genes - we previously found these dysregulated in dying and surviving rat hippocampal neurons - that are targeted by ten TBI-altered miRNAs. Bioinformatic analysis suggests that neurodegeneration results from a global miRNA-mediated suppression of genes essential for maintaining proteostasis; many are hub genes - involved in RNA processing, cytoskeletal metabolism, intracellular trafficking, cell cycle progression, repair/maintenance, bioenergetics and cell-cell signaling - whose disrupted expression is linked to human disease. Notably, dysregulation of these essential genes would significantly impair synaptic function and functional brain connectivity. In surviving neurons, upregulated miRNA target genes are co-regulated members of prosurvival pathways associated with cellular...
Resuscitation, 2015
Materials and methods: Structures of hearts were observed by echocardiography during full expirat... more Materials and methods: Structures of hearts were observed by echocardiography during full expiration and inspiration phases of breathing. Investigator requested children for forceful breathing and asked to hold 5 seconds to observe parasternal long axis and short axis view. If children could not follow the investigator's request, investigator tried to observe changes of heart position during normal breathing. Results: Forty children were enrolled. 24 (60%) were male and mean age was 6 (±2.4) years. At full expiration phases, 80% (32/40) of left ventricles were placed underneathinter-mammalian line. 10% (4/40) of left ventricles were found underneath just upper of inter-mammalian line and remains were found just below. Their left lobes of livers were placed under lower half level of sternum in all cases. Conclusions: This study has identified that, in children, left ventricle might be placed beneath upper or middle of inter-mammalian line, not below inter-mammalian line. The proper location of chest compression might be a middle of inter-mammalian line for better cardiac output with avoidance of hepatic damage. Location of ventricle Inter-mammalian line or upper Below inter-mammalian line Full inspiration 12 28 Full expiration 36 4
Frontiers in Immunology, 2013
Psicologia Argumento, 2013
A violência contra crianças e adolescentes sempre esteve presente na história da humanidade e é a... more A violência contra crianças e adolescentes sempre esteve presente na história da humanidade e é atualmente considerada um grave problema de saúde pública no Brasil, constituindo a principal causa de morte a partir dos 5 anos de idade. Trabalhar com casos de violência doméstica contra crianças e adolescentes (VDCA) não é uma tarefa fácil, uma vez que o médico pode se defrontar com situações complicadas, notadamente no Programa de Saúde da Família (PSF), que mantém estreito vínculo com comunidades inseridas em cenários propícios a esse fenômeno e expostas a risco social. Esta pesquisa exploratória, com análise qualitativa, foi esenvolvida com o objetivo de identificar a percepção de médicos atuantes no PSF sobre o processo de atendimento às vítimas de VDCA no município de São Paulo (SP). O estudo confirmou a falta ou do pouco conhecimento sobre as imbricações e impactos da VDCA ― consequência da não abordagem do tema nos cursos de graduação e da carência de educação continuada. Além d...
Toxicon, 2011
Phα1β is a potent toxin obtained from the spider Phoneutria nigriventer that blocks neuronal volt... more Phα1β is a potent toxin obtained from the spider Phoneutria nigriventer that blocks neuronal voltage-sensitive Ca(2+) channels. This study compared the antiallodynic effects of Phα1β, ω-conotoxin MVIIA and morphine in mice and their side effects in rats. Mechanical allodynia was measured in mice receiving single intrathecal administration of Phα1β, ω-conotoxin MVIIA or morphine before or after the incisional plantar procedure. The effect of the treatments on cardiovascular profile and global neurological were evaluated in rats. The expression of pro or anti-inflammatory cytokines of human polymorph mononuclear cells was also evaluated. Preemptive use of ω-conotoxin MVIIA (1.0 or 10 pmol/site) or morphine (1000 pmol/site) induced shorter antiallodynic effect than Phα1β (100 pmol/site) in mice. Post-incision administration of Phα1β (200 pmol/site) induced longer mechanical antiallodynic effect than ω-conotoxin MVIIA (1.0 or 10 pmol/site) or morphine (1000 pmol/site). Intrathecal injection of Phα1β (200 pmol/site) and morphine (433 pmol/site) did not change while ω-conotoxin MVIIA (100 pmol/site) increased the heart rate in rats 3 h after its administration. Phα1β (200 pmol/site), ω-conotoxin MVIIA (100 pmol/site) and morphine (433 pmol/site) did not change mean arterial pressure 0.5 and 3 h after their administration. The treatments did not alter neurological performance assessed by global neurological evaluation and open-field test. The tested drugs did not induced expression of pro or anti-inflammatory cytokines in CD4 monocytes. In conclusion, preemptive administration Phα1β in mice induced longer antiallodynic effect than ω-conotoxin MVIIA and morphine. Phα1β also induced a longer mechanical antiallodynic effect than ω-conotoxin MVIIA and morphine when used after the surgical incision. The present results suggest that Phα1β has a potential application in the management of postoperative pain with low side effects.
PLoS ONE, 2014
The regulation of energy balance involves an intricate interplay between neural mechanisms that r... more The regulation of energy balance involves an intricate interplay between neural mechanisms that respond to internal and external cues of energy demand and food availability. Compelling data have implicated the neurotransmitter dopamine as an important part of body weight regulation. However, the precise mechanisms through which dopamine regulates energy homeostasis remain poorly understood. Here, we investigate mechanisms through which dopamine modulates energy storage. We showed that dopamine signaling regulates fat reservoirs in Caenorhabditis elegans. We found that the fat reducing effects of dopamine were dependent on dopaminergic receptors and a set of fat oxidation enzymes. Our findings reveal an ancient role for dopaminergic regulation of fat and suggest that dopamine signaling elicits this outcome through cascades that ultimately mobilize peripheral fat depots.
Neurologic Clinics, 2011
Neuropsychology is a hybrid science that combines elements of psychology, neurology, and psychiat... more Neuropsychology is a hybrid science that combines elements of psychology, neurology, and psychiatry, and that helps us improve our understanding of brainbehavior relationships. Clinical neuropsychology studies behavior, emotions, and cognitive abilities to understand the underlying (dysfunctional) neural systems involved, as well as better characterizing the disorder or disease state being studied. In essence, it takes the phenotypic expression and using other relevant data (test results and history, for example), and assists the health care provider determine an accurate diagnosis to guide treatment and other recommendations. Nowhere is this most relevant than in the differential diagnosis of psychiatric and neurologic diseases where common phenotypic expressions (ie, cognitive and emotional sequelae) can be the same but emanate from very different genotypes (or causes). For example, a common referral question could be to "rule out dementia versus pseudo-dementia" in an elderly patient with signs of depression. Here, the expression or phenotype of neuropsychological deficits of memory, organizational skills, and concentration is as easily related to depression 1 as the early stages of a neurodegenerative dementia such as Alzheimer disease (AD). Although complex and difficult to tease apart at times, it can be even more difficult in younger patients (ie, those in their 40s and 50s) when the likelihood of the neurologic disorder being present is statistically much lower than a psychiatric disorder. Moreover, these same psychiatric symptoms can be the harbinger of a neurodegenerative disorder. It is often at this stage where neuropsychological expertise can be most effective in differential diagnoses.
International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 2013
Objective: Depression might be a prodromal stage of dementia. Many factors contribute to the etio... more Objective: Depression might be a prodromal stage of dementia. Many factors contribute to the etiology of depression and dementia, being inflammation one of those. The present work measured and analyzed immune molecules involved in the innate immunity on cluster of differentiation 14 (CD14+) monocytes trying to investigate any relationship among late-onset depression (LOD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Methods: Immune molecules were evaluated in monocytes of AD, LOD patients, and controls using flow cytometry. Results: Interestingly, interleukin 1 beta (IL-1b) expressing CD14+ monocytes were increased in AD patients compared with controls. LOD presented intermediate frequency of CD14+ monocytes expressing IL-1b between controls and AD patients. Conclusion: Results suggest that an increased frequency of CD14+ monocytes expressing IL-1b level could be a stage marker related to the pathophysiology of dementia process between normal aging and AD.
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Papers by Karen Rodriguez Torres