Resumo O artigo analisa a introdução e a consolidação, no Rio Grande do Sul, do modelo de saúde pública conhecido como centro de saúde. O modelo norte-americano de centros de saúde foi introduzido no estado no final da década de 1920 e consolidado nos anos 1930. Nesse sentido, são discutidas a gênese dos centros de saúde nos EUA e duas reformas sanitárias, ocorridas em 1929 e 1938, propostas por Fernando de Freitas e Castro e José Bonifácio Paranhos da Costa, respectivamente. Para o desenvolvimento da investigação foram utilizadas, além da bibliografia pertinente, fontes diversas como legislação, relatórios estaduais de saúde e documentação produzida pela Fundação Rockefeller.

Abstract The article analyzes the introduction, in the late 1920s, and consolidation, in the 1930s, of a public health model in Rio Grande do Sul state based on the health center model conceived in the United States. The genesis of health centers in the United States is discussed, as are two health reforms in Brazil, in 1929 and 1938, proposed by Fernando de Freitas e Castro and José Bonifácio Paranhos da Costa. The investigation draws not only on the literature in the area, but also on primary sources such as legislation, state health reports, and documents produced by the Rockefeller Foundation.

Objective: To evaluate brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) blood levels as disease biomarkers of delirium in oncology inpatients. Methods: Seventeen oncology inpatients with delirium, 28 oncology inpatients without delirium, and 25 non-oncology controls (caregivers) were consecutively recruited from a Brazilian cancer center. This sample was matched by age, sex, and education level. The Confusion Assessment Method, the Mini-Mental State Examination, and the Digit Span Test were administered to ascertain delirium diagnosis. BDNF and TNF-α levels were measured by the Sandwich-ELISA method and flow cytometry, respectively. Blood samples were collected immediately after clinical evaluation. Results: Oncology inpatients (with and without delirium) showed significantly lower BDNF levels compared with non-oncology controls (F = 13.830; p = 0.001). TNF-α levels did not differ between the three groups. Conclusion: A cross-sectional relationship of BDNF and TNF-α blood levels with delirium in oncology inpatients was not demonstrated. The association between cancer and reduced serum BDNF levels may be mediated by confounding factors.