MEDLINE Reloaded to Reflect 1999 Vocabulary

The annual vocabulary maintenance for MEDLINE has been completed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM). For 1999, NLM added 313 descriptors, including 38 new publication types.

Four MeSH categories underwent particularly important changes and additions:

1. Fungi: Twenty three new terms were added to the Fungi tree (B5) and other terms were modified to reflect developments in the taxonomy of the fungi.

2. Genetics: New headings were added to the Genetics tree (G5) and to the Investigative Techniques tree (E5)

3. Delivery of Healthcare: New headings were added to reflect recent Federal legislation and other developments.

4. Chemicals and Drugs: There are 71 new headings in the Chemicals and Drugs category. A new Subcategory of Chemical Actions and Uses (D27) was created to group all MeSH Headings used as Pharmacologic Actions.

Publication Types

Note that the new 38 publication types are not used in the MEDLINE database and so will not appear in the Ovid publication type limit list. However, several existing publication types have changed:

Unique Identifier now appears in Titles display

The NLM Unique Identifier will now display in the Titles display in Medline.

Year 2000 Changes

The Entry Month (EM) field as well as the Year (YR) field have been modified for year 2000 compliance. When searching these fields, it will be necessary to use a four digit year.

For example

1994.yr. instead of 94.yr.

199902.em. instead of 9902.em.

New MEDLINE Segments

As part of the annual reload, new segments have been created for MEDLINE:

Full Medline

MEDL: 1996-present

MED91:1991-1995

MED85:1985-1990

MED76:1976-1984

MED66:1986-1975

MESX: Weekly

MEDB: 1966 to 1995

MESZ: 1966 to present

Ovid Technologies, Inc. (1999 NLM Global Update)