The document discusses how to use Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) to search for literature in the life sciences. It explains that MeSH searches retrieve articles based on subjects rather than keywords. When a keyword search retrieves too many irrelevant results, the user should consider a MeSH search instead. The document provides guidance on selecting appropriate MeSH terms and subheadings to focus a search on a specific aspect of a topic, and restricts searches to major topic headings only. An example compares searching for "aphthous ulcer AND drug treatment" as keywords versus as MeSH terms, showing the MeSH search retrieves more targeted results.

1. 3
Internet Tool in life Sciences
Research
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2. Lessons
1- Essentials
2- Searching
3- Using MeSH
4- Working with Results
5- Jeopardy game
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3. 3- Using MeSH
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4. 3- Using MeSH
Basically , when we search , we use
keywords
or /and MeSH terms
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5. 3- Using MeSH
keywords
 Is fast and easy - usually finds what
you need
 Often automatically maps your
keyword to the appropriate MeSH term,
including it in your search
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6. 3- Using MeSH
MeSH Search
MeSH Retrieves Subjects – Not Words:
When you search with a MeSH term, you
are searching for a subject
(not a keyword) match
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7. 3- Using MeSH
Example
Searching for the keyword "aids"
retrieves articles on :
AIDS virus, as well as articles on hearing
aids, audiovisual aids, clinical aids,
teaching aids etc.
Using the MeSH term for AIDS:
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
[MeSH] will limit your retrieval to the
relevant subject
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8. 3- Using MeSH
When MeSH Helps and When it Doesn't ?
Type of
Topic Explanation
Search
One Aspect
Adverse effects of the
of a Larger A keyword search retrieves over 800 hits. A MeSH
MMR vaccine
Topic search with subheadings quickly provides focus
Rare or New A keyword search is best for rare or new topics.
Turner's hypoplasia
Topic There is no MeSH term for Turner's hypoplasia
Complicated Adverse effects of A keyword search here is too broad. A MeSH search
Topic fluoride on newborn helps focus on the relationship between the terms.
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9. 3- Using MeSH
Selecting medical subject
headings (MeSH) for a search
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10. 3- Using MeSH
Consider doing a MeSH Search
F
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11. 3- Using MeSH
Use MeSH subheadings to quickly focus your
search on a specific aspect of a topic. For
example: "Etiology of aphthous ulcer ",
"Genetics of amelogenesis imperfecta"
Tip: When your topic contains the word "of"
consider selecting MeSH and MeSH subheadings
for your search
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12. 3- Using MeSH
Also Consider doing a MeSH Search If:
Your keyword
search results in a
retrieval that is
Too large
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13. 3- Using MeSH
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14. 3- Using MeSH
MeSH will probably NOT help you if you search
A new or emerging medical concept
A recently published articles
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15. 3- Using MeSH
Scenario
You need to find articles on drug treatments for aphthous ulcer !
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16. 3- Using MeSH
To see the difference between searches, start with a keyword search
 Clear the previous search if it is still active
 In the query box, type aphthous ulcer AND
drug treatment
 Click GO
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17. 3- Using MeSH
You should retrieve about 1097 citations. This is more than is
optimal. More importantly, inspection would show that drug
treatment aphthous ulcer is not the main focus of many of these
citations. (Some of the articles are about aphthous ulcer , but
mention drug treatment of other conditions
We need to increase the search precision
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18. STEPS
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19. Locate and Select MeSH Terms From the MeSH
database
1
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20. Locate and Select MeSH Terms From the MeSH
database
2
3
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21. Locate and Select MeSH Terms From the MeSH
database
6
7
4
5
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/mesh?term=aph
thous%20ulcer
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22. 3- Using MeSH
WHY
Subheading ( STEP 4)
Attaching subheadings to a MeSH term allows you to
focus on a specific aspect of your topic. In this
example, we retrieved citations about drug therapy of
aphthous ulcer . We did NOT retrieve citations where "
aphthous ulcer " and "drug therapy" are both
mentioned as separate concepts
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23. 3- Using MeSH
WHY Restrict Search to Major Topic
Headings Only( STEP 5)
So that your articles will have drug therapy of
aphthous ulcer as a major focus
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24. SO, 540 focused citations in your results down from
about 1097 retrieved at the beginning of this example
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25. 3- Using MeSH
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26. 3- Using MeSH
Quick Summery
 A MeSH search is a subject search
 Consider selecting MeSH terms if your search
results are off topic or too large
 A MeSH search usually results in a smaller retrieval
than a keyword search. Selecting MeSH terms limits
your search to the MeSH field
MeSH subheadings allow you to quickly focus on
one aspect of a topic
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27. 3- Using MeSH
Quick Summery
 Consider restricting your MeSH search to Major
Topics Only
MeSH will not usually help you if you need to
research a new or rare topic or the most recent articles
on a topic
 Display search sets in Citation format to view the
MeSH terms for each citation.
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28. Reference
1- Gustave L. and Janet W. Levy Library of Mount Sinai School of Medicine
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29. End of the lesson
THANK YOU
3
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