PubMed/MeSH - Medical Subject Headings (module 4.3)

MODULE 4.3 PubMed/MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) Instructions - This part of the: course is a PowerPoint demonstration intended to introduce you to PubMed/MeSH. module is off-line and is intended as an information resource for reference use.

Table of Contents Using MeSH in PubMed The MeSH database Major Topic Headings and Explode Using MeSH terms Geographic regions

Logging on to HINARI 1 Before logging into PubMed, we can Login to the HINARI website using the URL http://www.who.int/hinari/

Logging into HINARI 2 We will need to insert our HINARI User Name and Password in the Login box and click on the Login button. Note: If you do not properly sign on, you will not have access to full text articles from the HINARI/PubMed database.

Remember - if you fail to use the Login page, you will have a second option on the Full text journals, databases, and other resources sub-page.

Main HINARI webpage Welcome to the PubMed Homepage. Part 3 will look at MeSH or Medical Subject Headings. To access the MeSH Database, click on the link on the left column of the PubMed home page. Once you are logged in from the main HINARI webpage, access PubMed by clicking on Search HINARI journal articles through PubMed (Medline). From the main HINARI webpage you can access PubMed from the “Find articles” link in the body of the webpage. Click on Search for articles through PubMed (Medline).

` MeSH database MeSH is the controlled vocabulary for indexing articles for MEDLINE. MeSH Terms are assigned as Keywords to each record that is “Indexed for MEDLINE”. MeSH is the controlled vocabulary for indexing articles for MEDLINE. MeSH Terms are assigned as Keywords to each record that is “Indexed for MEDLINE”. NB. Articles in PubMed that are not on MEDLINE have no MeSH Terms assigned to their records

Searching in MeSH To find a MeSH term, type your search in the query box and click on Go. In this example we will check for a MeSH Term for Cancer. To find a MeSH term type your search in the query box and click on “Go”. In this example we will check for a MeSH Term for “Cancer”.

MeSH search results From these results we see that the MeSH term for Cancer is “Neoplasms”. Click on the linked term for more information. From these results we see that the MeSH term for Cancer is Neoplasms. Click on the linked term for more information.

MeSH Terms The record for a MeSH term contains a definition of the term, associated subheadings, a list of entry terms, and the tree view of MeSH. Highlighted above is the definition provided for the term Neoplasms. The record for a MeSH term contains a definition of the term, associated subheadings, a list of entry terms, and the tree view of MeSH. Highlighted above is the definition provided for the term “Neoplasms”

MeSH Subheadings All Subheadings associated with a MeSH term are displayed below the definition. All subheadings associated to a MeSH term are displayed below the definition.

Major MeSH and exploding a term Below the subheadings are two check boxes. The first box restricts terms to Major Topic Headings only. The second box is to instruct PubMed not to Explode a term. Below the subheading are two check boxes. The first box restricts terms to “Major Topic Headings” only. The second box is to instruct PubMed not to “Explode” a term.

Entry terms and See Also references Entry Terms are listed along with See Also references. “Entry Terms” are listed along with “See Also” references.

MeSH structure diagram Each record also has a tree view of MeSH displaying the term and its position in the MeSH structure. Each record also has a tree view of MeSH displaying the term and its position in the MeSH structure.

Dengue 1 To search for records with “Dengue” as a MeSH term enter the term in the query box. To search for records with Dengue as a MeSH term enter the term in the Search box.

Dengue 2 There are a number of MeSH terms containing the term Dengue. We now will click on the box for this term. There are three MeSH terms containing the term “Dengue”.

Dengue 3 Here is the Dengue record and associated subheadings. Here is the main Dengue MeSH record and associated subheadings.

Dengue 4 To search PubMed check the box next to the MeSH term and select “Send to Search box with AND”, Click on the “Send To” button. To search PubMed, check the box next to the MeSH term and, from the Send to drop down menu, select/click on the Search box with AND.

Dengue 5 The Term is now entered into the search box. From here you can add keywords or more MeSH Terms to the search. To search click on the “Search PubMed” button. The Term is now entered into the search box. From here you can add keywords or more MeSH Terms to the search. To search click on the Search PubMed button.

Here are the results of a PubMed search for Dengue[MeSH] in Summary display for 4640 articles.

If you click on the Abstract display/MeSH Terms (at the bottom of the abstract), you can view all the MeSH terms.

Dengue 7 To search using subheadings, select the appropriate Subheading(s) by checking the selection boxes. To use a MeSH term with Subheadings in a PubMed search, you will need to go to the Send to drop down menu and click on Search Box with AND. To search using subheadings select the appropriate subheading by checking the selection boxes.

Dengue 8 This time we are searching for the MeSH term Dengue with a subheading of prevention and control. To use these terms in PubMed, you must click on Search PubMed. This time we are searching for the MeSH term “Dengue” with a subheading of “prevention and control”.

Here are the results of a PubMed search for Dengue/prevention and control[MeSH] in Summary display.

If you click on the Abstract display/MeSH Terms, you can view all the terms including Dengue/prevention & control.

Dengue Major MeSH topic 1 When we restrict to Major Topic Headings only we are just selecting articles where the primary subject matter was Dengue. When we restrict to “Major Topic Headings only” we are just selecting articles where the primary subject matter was “Dengue”.

Dengue Major MeSH topic 2 In this example we can see that the Dengue MeSH term is limited to Major Topic Headings [MAJR]. In this example we can see that the “Dengue” Mesh term is limited to Major Topic Headings [MAJR].

In the Medline display format, Major MeSH terms (MAJR) are identified using *

MeSH History page The History compares the difference between searching for Dengue as a keyword, Major Mesh Term and MeSH term. Note the smaller numbers for the more refined search results. The History compares the difference between searching for Dengue as a keyword, MeSH term and Major Mesh Term.

Geographical MeSH terms 2 There are MeSH terms assigned for geographical regions and countries. In this example we will look at the MeSH terms for Asia. Here is the MeSH record for Asia.

Geographical MeSH terms 3 In the tree view, we can see a breakdown of Asia by region and country. In the tree view we can see a breakdown of Asia by region and country

Geographical MeSH terms 4 From within the Asia listing, Southeastern region, we will select Myanmar. From within the Asia, Southeastern region we will select “Myanmar”

Geographical MeSH terms 5 In this example, we can see that “Burma” and “Myanma” are Entry Terms for Myanmar. In this example we can see that “Burma” and “Myanma” are Entry Terms for “Myanmar”

Geographical MeSH terms 6 In this example, we will search for Myanmar as a MeSH term. In this example we will search for Myanmar as a MeSH term.

Geographical MeSH terms 7 The articles highlighted have Myanmar in their titles and are some of 892 articles with Myanmar as a MeSH term. The article highlighted is about Plasmoduim infections in Thailand and includes information about Myanmar

MeSH – Developing countries 2 The Developing Countries MeSH term was introduced in 1971 and is not defined by the UNDP or World Bank. In this example, we can see the definition for Developing Countries and Entry Terms that will map to this MeSH Term . The Developing Countries MeSH term was introduced in 1971 and is defined by the NLM, and not by the UNDP or World Bank.

MeSH – Developing countries 4 In this example, we are going to search PubMed for articles tagged with the Developing Countries MeSH term. In this example we are going to search for articles tagged with the Developing countries MeSH term

This is the end of Module 4 Part 3 The results of the Developing Countries[Mesh] search is 52168 articles. This is the end of Module 4 Part 3. There is a workbook to accompany this part of the module. The workbook will take you through a live session covering the topics included in this demonstration with working examples. Updated 10 2009 This is the end of Module 4 Part 3. There is a Work Book to accompany this part of the module. The workbook will take you through a live session covering the topics included in this demonstration with working examples.