Macarena Rodriguez

Mrs. Macarena Rodriguez

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

5Years (2022-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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1 January 2022 in International Journal of Morphology
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MRMacarena Rodriguez
Macarena Rodriguez
JGJessica Goset-Poblete
Jessica Goset-Poblete
NPNury Pérez-Cárdenas
Nury Pérez-Cárdenas
SNSven Niklander-Ebensperger
Sven Niklander-Ebensperger
DLDiego Luengo-Mai
Diego Luengo-Mai
La pandemia por COVID-19 obligó a las universidades a impartir de forma abrupta sus asignaturas en un formato en línea o semi presencial. Es así como el uso del modelo educativo Hyflex surgió como alternativa. El objetivo del presente estudio fue conocer la percepción de los alumnos y docentes sobre la experiencia en el uso de Hyflex en anatomía. Estudio descriptivo de tipo mixto con una muestra por conveniencia de 115 alumnos y 7 docentes que participaban en Anatomía Aplicada durante el año 2021 en las Salas de Habilidades del Hospital de Simulación de la Universidad Andrés Bello, sede Viña del Mar, Chile. La recogida de datos fue a través de un cuestionario de auto aplicación con escala tipo Likert de 5 niveles y la realización de focus group con guión de 9 preguntas semi-estructuradas. Los datos cuantitativos fueron analizados con estadística descriptiva y la aplicación del test Mann- White para comparar entre grupos con un P < 0.05. Los datos cualitativos fueron analizados mediante teoría fundamentada para identificar las categorías principales y subcategorías. Tanto los docentes como estudiantes tuvieron una buena percepción sobre el uso de Hyflex. En ambos grupos lo más destacado fue que posibilitaba el acceso a contenidos y actividades en línea que complementaban las actividades presenciales. Sin embargo, ambos grupos coincidieron en que no aprenden más en el formato en línea que presencial. Además, en las entrevistas de focus group emergieron dos categorías principales, la satisfacción (destacando las subcategorías comprensión de contenidos, aspectos administrativos, acceso a la información) y modalidad (calidad de aprendizaje, rendimiento, participación, recepción de la información y aspectos sociales). Hyflex es una alternativa para impartir los contenidos de anatomía, aunque los estudiantes y docentes perciben que la presencialidad es fundamental para brindar una adecuada experiencia de aprendizaje.

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JVJuan Jose Valenzuela
Juan Jose Valenzuela
LMLaura Moyano-Valarezo
Laura Moyano-Valarezo
VBVicente Alberto Silva Bravo
Vicente Alberto Silva Bravo
DMDaniel Milos
Daniel Milos
MOMathias Orellana
Mathias Orellana
HGHector Gutierrez-Espinoza
Hector Gutierrez-Espinoza
Background: Glioblastoma is a primary malignant brain tumor; it is aggressive with a high degree of malignancy and unfavorable prognosis and is the most common type of malignant brain tumor. Glioblastomas can be located in the brain, cerebellum, brainstem, and spinal cord, originating from glial cells, particularly astrocytes. Methods: The databases MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and CINAHL were researched up to January 2024. Two authors independently performed the search, study selection, and data extraction. Methodological quality was evaluated with an assurance tool for anatomical studies (AQUA). The statistical mean, standard deviation, and difference of means calculated with the Student’s t-test for presence between hemispheres and presence in the frontal and temporal lobes were analyzed. Results: A total of 123 studies met the established selection criteria, with a total of 6224 patients. In relation to the mean, GBM between hemispheres had a mean of 33.36 (SD 58.00) in the right hemisphere and a mean of 34.70 (SD 65.07) in the left hemisphere, due to the difference in averages between hemispheres. There were no statistically significant differences, p = 0.35. For the comparison between the presence of GBM in the frontal lobe and the temporal lobe, there was a mean in the frontal lobe of 23.23 (SD 40.03), while in the temporal lobe, the mean was 22.05 (SD 43.50), and for the difference in means between the frontal lobe and the temporal lobe, there was no statistically significant difference for the presence of GBM, p = 0.178. Conclusions: We believe that before a treatment, it will always be correct to know where the GBM is located and how it behaves clinically, in order to generate correct conservative or surgical treatment guidelines for each patient. We believe that more detailed studies are also needed to show why GBM is associated more with some regions than others, despite the brain structure being homologous to other regions in which GMB occurs less frequently, which is why knowing its predominant presence in brain regions is very important.

23 October 2023 in Diagnostics
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JVJuan Jose Valenzuela
Juan Jose Valenzuela
KNKora-Lle Keller Navarro
Kora-Lle Keller Navarro
PUPia Urbina
Pia Urbina
MTMartin Trujillo-Riveros
Martin Trujillo-Riveros
PBPablo Nova Baeza
Pablo Nova Baeza
JSJuan A. Sanchis-Gimeno
Juan A. Sanchis-Gimeno
Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of anatomical variants in the bifid mandibular condyle (BMC) and report its association with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pathology. Methods: We searched the Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, CINAHL, and LILACS databases from their inception up to September 2023. Two authors independently performed the search, study selection, and data extraction, and they also assessed the methodological quality with an assurance tool for anatomical studies (AQUA). Finally, the pooled prevalence was estimated using a random effects model. Results: A total of 50 studies met the eligibility criteria. Twenty studies, with a total of 88,625 subjects, were included in the meta-analysis. The overall prevalence of the bifid mandibular condyle (BMC) variant was 1% (95% CI = 1% to 2%). Conclusions: The correlation between the BMC and TMJ pathologies has a relatively low prevalence in studies that present a considerable number of subjects. From a clinical point of view, a direct association cannot be made between the presence of the BMC and TMJ pathologies or symptoms.

12 December 2025 in Oral
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PRPatricio Melendez Rojas
Patricio Melendez Rojas
MRMacarena Rodriguez
Macarena Rodriguez
MAMarcelo Durán Anrique
Marcelo Durán Anrique
Sven NiklanderSven Niklander
Sven Niklander
MDMaría F. Villalobos Dellafiori
María F. Villalobos Dellafiori
AVAlejandro Veloz
Alejandro Veloz
Background/Objectives: Despite decades of technological progress, the diagnosis of dental caries still depends largely on subjective, operator-dependent assessment, leading to inconsistent detection of early lesions and delayed intervention. Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative approach capable of standardizing diagnostic performance and, in some cases, surpassing human accuracy. This scoping review critically synthesizes the current evidence on AI for caries detection and examines its true translational readiness for clinical practice. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science (WoS), covering studies published from January 2019 to June 2024, in accordance with PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Eligible studies included original research evaluating the use of AI for dental caries detection, published in English or Spanish. Review articles, editorials, opinion papers, and studies unrelated to caries detection were excluded. Two reviewers independently screened, extracted, and charted data on imaging modality, sample characteristics, AI architecture, validation approach, and diagnostic performance metrics. Extracted data were summarized narratively and comparatively across studies using tabulated and graphical formats. Results: Thirty studies were included from an initial pool of 617 records. Most studies employed convolutional neural network (CNN)-based architectures and reported strong diagnostic performance, although these results come mainly from experimental settings and should be interpreted with caution. Bitewing radiography dominated the evidence base, reflecting technological maturity and greater reproducibility compared with other imaging modalities. Conclusions: Although the reported metrics are technically robust, the current evidence remains insufficient for real-world clinical adoption. Most models were trained on small, single-source datasets that do not reflect clinical diversity, and only a few underwent external or multicenter validation. Until these translational and methodological gaps are addressed, AI for caries detection should be regarded as promising yet not fully clinically reliable. By outlining these gaps and emerging opportunities, this review offers readers a concise overview of the current landscape and the key steps needed to advance AI toward meaningful clinical implementation.

24 November 2025 in Diagnostics
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JSJuan A. Sanchis-Gimeno
Juan A. Sanchis-Gimeno
Jessica Paola loaiza GiraldoJessica Paola loaiza Giraldo
Jessica Paola loaiza Giraldo
YAYael Alruiz
Yael Alruiz
MVMaximiliano Vergara
Maximiliano Vergara
MRMaría Fernanda Navia Ramírez
María Fernanda Navia Ramírez
Guinevere GraniteGuinevere Granite
Guinevere Granite
Background: The radial artery (RA) is one of the terminal branches of the brachial artery, extending along the lateral forearm, crossing the anatomical snuffbox, and contributing to the palmar arches. Anatomical variations in the RA are of great clinical relevance due to their implications in procedures such as transradial catheterization, arterial cannulation, and bypass grafting. These variants may alter the course, branching pattern, or origin of the vessel, potentially increasing procedural complexity and the risk of iatrogenic injury. In critically ill patients and in surgical or interventional settings, accurate identification of RA anatomy is essential. The objective of this study was to systematically identify and describe RA variants reported in the scientific literature and to analyze their clinical relevance. Methods: A systematic search was conducted across six electronic databases: Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), and Latin American and Caribbean Literature in Health Sciences (LILACS), covering publications up to July 2025. Eligible studies included anatomical, radiological, and surgical investigations reporting RA variants. Study quality was evaluated using the Assessment of Quality in Anatomical Studies (AQUA) tool. Quantitative synthesis was performed using a random-effects model to estimate the pooled prevalence of RA variants and subgroup differences. Twenty-three studies met the inclusion criteria, and eleven were included in the meta-analysis, encompassing a total of 6320 participants. Results: Radial artery variants were categorized into three main types: variations in origin, course, and branching pattern. The pooled global prevalence of RA variants was 12% (95% CI: 6–18%), with substantial heterogeneity (I2 = 97.7%). Higher prevalence was found in imaging-based studies (14%) compared with donor-based studies (12%). Sex-based subgroup analysis revealed a higher prevalence in females (18%; CI: 9–28%) compared with males (3%; CI: 3–4%), with moderate heterogeneity (I2 = 61.3%). Regionally, European populations demonstrated a higher prevalence (20%) than Asian populations (11%), both showing high heterogeneity (I2 > 98%). Notably, only one study from the Americas and none from Africa or Oceania were identified, representing a major geographical limitation in the available data. The findings of this study highlight the considerable variability in RA anatomy across populations. Such variations hold significant clinical importance, particularly in the context of transradial interventions, arterial cannulation, and reconstructive procedures where vascular integrity is critical. The high degree of heterogeneity observed may reflect differences in population genetics, sample size, and imaging or dissection methodologies. The limited representation of certain regions underscores the need for further anatomical and radiological studies to obtain a more comprehensive understanding of global RA variability. Preoperative or pre-procedural imaging using Doppler ultrasonography or computed tomography angiography is recommended to identify anomalous patterns and minimize iatrogenic complications. Conclusions: Radial artery variants are frequent and diverse. Their recognition is fundamental for the safety and success of invasive and surgical procedures in the upper limb. A standardized approach to vascular evaluation, particularly through preoperative imaging, is essential to improve procedural outcomes and reduce the risk of arterial injury in clinical practice.

9 March 2023 in Applied Sciences
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JVJuan Jose Valenzuela
Juan Jose Valenzuela
DHDaniela Victoria Martínez Hernández
Daniela Victoria Martínez Hernández
DPDaniela Pérez-Jiménez
Daniela Pérez-Jiménez
PBPablo Nova Baeza
Pablo Nova Baeza
ABAlvaro Becerra
Alvaro Becerra
JIJoe Iwanaga
Joe Iwanaga
Background: The spleen is the largest secondary immune organ in the body. Knowledge regarding the normal splenic vascular anatomy and its anatomical variants is crucial in the medical practice of surgeons and radiologists and is useful for diagnostic evaluations and the guidance of various surgical procedures. Hence, in this research, we aim to characterize the behavior of the lineal or splenic artery in humans from an anatomoclinical point of view. Methods: A systematic search was carried out in electronic databases to compile the available literature on the research subject. Searches were undertaken in the following databases: Medline, Scielo, Wos, Cinahl, Scopus, and Google Scholar. The search terms were “Splenic artery”, “Splenic vascularization”, “Anatomical variations’’, “Splenic organ”, and “Clinical anatomy”. Results: From the 35 studies included in this review, clinical correlations of anatomical variations in the splenic artery with surgical procedures in the abdominal region were reported in 8 studies. These correlations are mainly associated with surgical procedures for the pancreas, liver, stomach, and bile ducts through imaging of the spleen. To verify our conclusions, the risk of bias of the anatomical studies was measured using the AQUA checklist. Conclusions: Recognition of the usual anatomy and anatomical variants of the splenic artery is crucial for both morphology professionals and clinicians addressing the abdominal region and its vascular components. In this review, we determined that the splenic artery could present a variation in its origin or entry into the splenic hilum, which could mean that in any abdominal intervention there may be complications if the splenic artery variation is overlooked. More anatomic clinical studies considering this variation in both diagnostic and surgical processes are suggested for further investigations.