Thoughts on the development of active regional public health systems.

Decentralization and regionalization are strategic themes for reforms in the health system. This paper analyzes the complex process of health regionalization being developed in Brazil. This paper identifies that the normative framework from the Brazilian National Health System, SUS has made advances with respect to its institutionalization and overcoming the initial centrality involved in municipalization.

Accuracy of self-report in detecting taste dysfunction.

Objective: To determine the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive value of responses to the following questionnaire statements in detecting taste loss: "I can detect salt in chips, pretzels, or salted nuts," "I can detect sourness in vinegar, pickles, or lemon," "I can detect sweetness in soda, cookies, or ice cream," and "I can detect bitterness, in coffee, beer, or tonic water." Responses to an additional item, "I can detect chocolate in cocoa, cake or candy," was examined to determine whether patients clearly differentiate between taste loss and flavor loss secondary to olfactory dysfunction.

Methods: A total of 469 patients (207 men, mean age = 54 years, standard deviation = 15 years; and 262 women, mean age = 54 years, standard deviation = 14 years) were administered a questionnaire containing these questions with the response categories of "easily," "somewhat," and "not at all," followed by a comprehensive taste and smell test battery.

Onset of subcutaneous emphysema and pneumomediastinum after tonsillectomy: a case report.

Several complications can be related to surgical approaches of head and neck regions. Among those, there are rare conditions such as pneumomediastinum, pneumothorax and subcutaneous cervical emphysema. This study reports a case of a patient that developed pneumomediastinum, pneumothorax and subcutaneous emphysema after undergoing tonsillectomy.