Databases: MEDLINE Reload 2013

Please note that initial standing order deliveries may work out more extensive than usual, because no more new completely indexed documents have been incorporated since 14th November 2012.

MeSH 2013

The MeSH 2013 contains 302 new descriptors for concepts from various different fields (above all Chemicals and Drugs, Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment, Biological Sciences). 56 headings were modified or deleted.

98 combinations of MeSH headings with qualifiers (subheadings) will be substituted by pre-coordinated descriptors from 2013.

Excerpt from the list: 

The complete list can be found on the webpages of National Library of Medicine (NLM), see link.

Changes of particular interest: MeSH-Terms

The Organophophorus Compounds tree and the Carboxylic Acids tree was revised in order to simplify the tree structure. Compounds that have similar functions and structures were grouped together. Phosphonic Acids was deleted and replaced on citations with the heading Organophosphonates.

Changes of particular interest: Datafields

The Grant Number Information (NG) has been updated to include new two-letter grant codes and their associated organization abbreviations. There is also a change for one of the organization name acronyms.

Starting with the 2013 system, NLM will start indicating abstracts not in MEDLINE but available from the publisher’s Web site.

Additionally MEDLINE will provide the indication of the availability of non English-language abstracts and its language on the publisher site.

Prospectively the datafield CR will be extended by a Unique Ingredient Identifier of the Food and Drug Administration Substance Registration System.

More details on this can be found on the webpages of NLM (see link).

Adjust your standing orders and search strategies

New descriptors will not be assigned retrospectively meaning that they can only be used for retrieving documents from 2013. The substitution of mainheading/qualifier combinations by new pre-coordinated descriptors (see Table) may lead to a loss of information in standing orders, because no documents can be identified with the original combinations. Therefore you should always supplement standing orders with a maturity over the turn of the year with current MeSH terms.

Searching MEDLINE, however, you should note details of the launch date of MeSH terms and MeSH terms previously used. Otherwise relevant documents that existed before the introduction of new MeSH terms could be lost.
Changed MeSH-terms will be retrospectively implemented for the entire stock. These changes may also require adjustments in your standing orders. As in previous years we are going to inform you which of your standing orders will have to be changed because of the MeSH conversion.

More details on this can be found along with a list of the new and changed descriptors on the webpages of NLM (see link).