PubMed 2010

This past month, National Library of Medicine has been involved in the MEDLINE year-end updates and changes. These include changing the Medical Subject Headings and Supplementary Concept Substance Names on existing MEDLINE citations to conform with the 2010 version of MeSH, adding new publication types, and other global changes.

MeSH terminology

This year 422 new MeSH headings were added–some of my personal favorite include Alien Hand Syndrome, Corpse Dismemberment, Economic Recession, Femininity/Masculinity, and Theory of Mind

For the complete list of MeSH terms, click here. Also, follow the links to the list of deleted and changed MeSH headings.

Publication

The two new Publication Types, Webcasts, and Research Support, American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, will be added to the “Type of Article” menu on the Advanced Search screen. Also, the heading, Young Adult, new to MeSH for 2009 indexing, will be added to the “Ages” menu on the Advanced Search screen as Young Adult: 19-24 years.

H1N1 Virus

Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype for the causative agent of what is colloquially called “swine flu.” It has entry terms H1N1 Virus and Swine-Origin Influenza A H1N1 Virus. The disease coordinate for H1N1 in humans is Influenza, Human. There are no references to “swine flu” in MeSH due to its ambiguous meaning (analogous to “bird flu”). For more indexing details, see 2009 H1N1 Flu (“Swine Flu”) Terminology.

For more details about these updates, visit the NLM Technical Bulletin at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/pubs/techbull/current_issue.html

One last note, for those who have been displeased with the new PubMed interface will be interested to know that in early 2010 the Advanced Search feature of PubMed will be re-worked to improve search capabilities. More information will be provided at a later date.

Updates to Henry Stewart talks

The following titles have been added to Henry Stewart talks:

 

The Blood-Brain Barrier

Understanding the regulatory gatekeeper between brain and body

New talks added:

1. Barrier mechanisms in the developing brain: mechanisms and misunderstandings / Prof. Norman Saunders – University of Melbourne, Australia

2. MRI approaches for neurovascular imaging / Dr. Rick Dijkhuizen – University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands

Copy Number Variation

New talk added:

1. Genome structure and expression /Prof. Alexandre Reymond – Centre for Integrative Genomics, University of Lausanne, Switzerland

Signal Transduction via Protein Tyrosine Kinase Receptors

Structures, Function, Regulation, Mechanisms and Role in Disease
New talk added:

1. EGFR targeted therapies in lung cancer / Dr. Pasi Janne – Dana Faber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, USA

Annual Report 2009

The Health Sciences Library’s 2009 Annual Report is now available at http://library.luhs.org/hslibrary/about_us/publications/AnnualReport09.pdf

This year’s annual report is dedicated to the memory of Mary Klatt, Associate Director who passed away on November 14, 2009.

FY09 Highlights

• The Library website was redesigned to emphasize accessibility to the numerous tools the library provides to our users.
• 760 free print titles were added to the collection as a result of our affiliation with the American Medical Association.
• Downsizing of the physical collection to assure more efficient use of our current space and to prepare for the move to the new future space prompted weeding the reference and reserve collections, establishing criteria for deselection of the circulating collection, and downsizing the audiovisual collection.
• Increased emphasis on teaching information skills; provided over 1,000 point-of-need instructions and 365 demonstrations.
• Reaffirmed reciprocal borrowing privileges with 40 health sciences libraries.
• Provided outreach services to public libraries and community groups
• Go Local continues to connect Illinois citizens with locally-based health services
• Created the Jesuit Health Sciences Information Institute to facilitate information exchange among Jesuit medical Schools

Influenza Update and Resources

Even though US health officials say that the H1N1 infections appear to be decreasing nationally, the number of children dying from the illness continues to rise.  So far, 35 flu-related pediatric deaths — 27 from lab-confirmed H1N1 — were reported to the CDC this week, bringing to 234 the total number of flu-related child deaths since April.

It is thought that the ongoing pandemic may be driving a recent spike in dangerous pneumonias among younger patients. These bacterial infections commonly infect the lungs and sometimes the bloodstream and during most flu seasons, secondary infections such as pneumonia typically occur in people 65 and older. However, in this pandemic the increase in pneumococcal infections is being seen primarily among younger people.

Here are some useful influenza resources that can help you distinguish the difference between the flu and a cold, complications that can occur, and what to do when you have the flu

Flu.gov

Flu.gov is the official website managed by the US Department of Health and Human Services. This free site contains government-wide information on pandemic and avian influenza for the general public, health professionals, government and business leaders, school systems, and local communities. All material on the site is public domain and may be freely copied and distributed (as long as it is attributed to flu.gov).

Some key features of the site include public service announcement videos, vaccine information (including information on specific populations who should receive vaccinations), information how the virus spreads, information about specific flu types, information for travelers, information for professionals (like school planners), and historical information.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Flu

The CDC’s website provides users with health information on data and statistics, diseases and conditions, emergencies and disasters, environmental health, healthy living, and much more.  Some features of the site include facts about the flu, information on how the flu spreads, continual updates, advice on preventing the flu, and how to cope if you get sick. While this site mainly contains information for healthcare professionals, there are many sections containing information about vaccinations, infection control, and general flu activity

Google.org Flu Trends

Google Flu Trend uses anonymized, aggregated data from the search engine to estimate flu activity and makes the estimates available on a daily basis. Users can freely download raw data from the site

Influenza.com

This site provides answers to FAQs on topics like prevention options or getting vaccinated and has a science & history section that explains what makes the influenza so deadly. Also provided are links to additional resources, including links about the risk of influenza to children

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

NIAID conducts and supports basic and applied research to better udnerstand, treat, and prevent infectious, immunologic and allergic diseases. Some key features to the site include an overview of the 2009 H1N1 flu, differences between different flu, complications, treatments, prevention, diagnostic progress updates, pandemic research, and resources for researchers. One particular section is about the history of the 1918 pandemic, which contains information about what researchers have learned from the outbreak that killed over 20 million people.

Some additional resources to look through:

KidsHealth

National Foundation for Infectious Disease

Prevent Influenza Now!

World Health Organization: Influenza

Have a Healthy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving brings more than just joy, it also brings lots of food that can result in unwanted pounds. And every tradition has their own sinful appetizer; whether it’s a special chocolate desert or carb-loaded stuffing. So, here are some suggestions to help you celebrate the holiday without overdoing the waist-line

Get off to a good start. Don’t go to the Thanksgiving table hungry. Snack on healthy, filling foods the day of the big event. You’ll be less tempted by high-calorie options if your stomach isn’t growling. Don’t skip meals, especially breakfast. If you do, you’ll be more likely to overeat.

Drink water all day long to stay hydrated. It’s easy to confuse hunger with thirst. If you’re going to someone else’s house for Thanksgiving, ask for a glass of water once you arrive to help you feel full and avoid overindulging. And don’t head straight for the food – make a point of greeting friends or introducing yourself to new people.

Watch your portion sizes. You don’t need to fill your plate with every dish on the table. Sample small portions of your favorites and enjoy the indulgence without feeling guilty. It may help to use a small appetizer- or dessert-sized plate and fill it first with healthy choices. Leave just a little space for a small sample of whatever unhealthy treat you’re craving, but eat that last, after you’ve filled up on the more nutritious offerings.

Eat your veggies first. Fill half of your plate with vegetables. They tend to be low in calories and packed with nutrients. Just go lightly on high-calorie vegetable dishes covered in cheese or heavy sauces.

Go easy on the alcohol. Not only are alcoholic beverages loaded with calories, drinking them tends to weaken your resolve to eat better. However, if you do decide to indulge, avoid heavy holiday drinks, and stick with light beer or a glass of wine instead.

Take a post-dinner walk. Don’t head straight to the couch and zone out watching football. Lace up your sneakers and head outside. Spend time with your family while burning off calories.

(article by the American Cancer Society)

Free Medical E-Books and Useful Search Engines!

Considering how expensive electronic materials are, it’s refreshing to know that there are some places that freely allow access to their services. In addition to some familiar sites like Freebooks4doctors or PLoS (Public Library of Science), this post also lists useful science-based search engines.

Free Medical E-Books

National Academies Press

Health and Medicine research at the National Academies focuses on issues affecting the health of the public, including population-based public health measures and the public health infrastructure. It also ensures that there is adequate attention to the science base underlying health and health care, as national and international needs evolve and change. The public and private policies and institutional relations that shape health sciences research and policy or that facilitate application of new knowledge are of particular concern.

FreeBooks4Doctors

FreeBooks4Doctors was created to promote the free availability of medical books on the Internet. Topics include cardiology, oncology, pediatrics, and many more. 550+ books to read online in English, French, German & Spanish, plus a few titles in Catalan, Italian, Portuguese, Norwegian, Romanian, Russian & Turkish. Various influenza reports are timely.

National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) Bookshelf

A collection of searchable biomedical books for the Web. Illustrated, in HTML. Medical issues covered include asthma, cancer, high blood pressure, obesity, & retroviruses. There are also more general works on topics including the Cell, Developmental Biology, Glycobiology, Genes and Disease, Immunobiology and Neurochemistry.

Public Library of Science

PLoS is a nonprofit organization of scientists and physicians committed to making the world’s scientific and medical literature a freely available public resource. PLos Medicine is a peer-reviewed open-access journal, providing an innovative and influential venue for research and comment on the major challenges to human health worldwide.

Science Search Engines

Biolinks

A search engine for scientists. Find fast and direct hotlinks to scientific journals, companies, Medline Resources, associations and societies, publishers, meetings guide, software resources, national organizations and career opportunities.

PSIgate

PSIgate is a free service that offers access to high quality Web resources in the physical sciences; astronomy, chemistry, earth sciences, materials sciences, physics, and science history and policy.

Science.gov

Science.gov is a gateway to authoritative selected science information provided by U.S. Government agencies, including research and development results.

Strategian

Guide to quality information in biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, medicine, physics, and psychology.

Updates to Henry Stewart Talks and MDConsult

New titles available in Henry Stewart talks:

The Molecular Basis of Bacterial Infection List of talks available: 1. The molecular basis of bacterial pathogenicity: an overview Prof. B. Brett Finlay – University of British Columbia, Canada 2. Deciphering Shigella invasion of epithelial cells Prof. Philippe Sansonetti – Pasteur Institute, France 3. Legionella pneumophila: an intracellular pathogen of phagocytes Dr. Craig Roy – Yale University, USA 4. Cholera: a paradigm for understanding emergence, virulence and temporal patterns of disease Prof. John Mekalanos – Harvard Medical School, USA 5. Bordetella pertussis Prof. Alison Weiss – University of Cincinnati, USA 6. Salmonellae: molecular basis of infection Prof. Samuel Miller – University of Washington, USA 7. The diversity of Escherichia coli infections Prof. Michael Donnenberg – University of Maryland, USA 8. Bacterial infection of epithelial signaling Prof. Alice Prince – College of Physicians & Surgeons, Columbia University, USA 9. Human pathogenic Yersinia species Prof. James Bliska – Stony Brook University, USA 10. Dental pathogens Prof. Ann Progulske-Fox – University of Florida, USA 11. Haemophilus Prof. Robert Munson – Ohio State University, USA 12. The war against extensively drug resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis: intelligence acquisition Prof. William Jacobs – Albert Einstein College of Medicine, USA 13. Molecular pathogenesis and prevention of Staphylococcus aureus infections Prof. Olaf Schneewind – University of Chicago, USA 14. Streptococcus pyogenes disease and molecular pathogenesis Prof. P. Patrick Cleary – University of Minnesota, USA 15. Microbial recognition and the immune response Dr. Dana Philpott – University of Toronto, Canada 16. The human indigenous microbiota Prof. David Relman – Stanford University, USA 17. Human genetics of infectious diseases: the example of bacterial/mycobacterial infections Dr. Laurent Abel – University Paris Descartes and Inserm, France 18. Antibiotics and antibiotic resistance Prof. Gerry Wright – McMaster University, Canada 19. Vaccines in the modern world Prof. Gordon Dougan – Sanger Institute, Cambridge, UK 20. Biodefense vaccines Prof. James Nataro – University of Maryland, USA

 MDConsult is providing complimentary access until December 18 to several additional ebook titles, including titles in the subject areas of anesthesiology, cardiology, infectious diseases, neurology, orthopedics, and pediatrics.

Trouble with MD Consult??

Having trouble getting into a book on MD Consult?  Try another book that covers the same topic but is accessed through a different services like StatRef.  Because of severe budgetary restraints, we have canceled many titles and had to reduced the number of concurrent users on MD Consult down to 4 and access may be difficult during peak times.  Check our e-book subject list for alternative resources.

If you used to use the electronic textbook UpToDate, you can find the same type of information using ACP Medicine (Scientific American Medicine) (BC Decker Inc.) or Harrison’s Online (Principles of Internal Medicine), both of which are evidence based.  Other standard textbooks of medicine are also available.

Medicine and Subspecialties

ACP Medicine (Scientific American Medicine) (BC Decker Inc.)
Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment (STATRef)
DeGowin’s Diagnostic Examination (STATRef)
Harrison’s Online (Principles of Internal Medicine)
Kelley’s Textbook of Internal Medicine (Ruddy) (Books@Ovid)
Magill’s Medical Guide 4 Revised edition, 2007 (Salem Press)
The Medical Interview (Coulehan) (R2 Library)
Merck Manuals
The National Academies Collection: Reports funded by National Institutes of Health (PubMed)
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence: Guidance (PubMed)
Primary Care Medicine (Goroll) (Books@Ovid)
The Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (PubMed)
Washington Manual of Medical Therapeutics (Books@Ovid)

DynaMed offers evidence based medicine in an outline format.