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What's New What's New in MeSH

  • John Kilbourne, MD has been selected as the Head of the Medical Subject Headings Section.

  • Due to the ever increasing number of concepts and terms in MeSH, it is necessary to increase the number of unique identifiers available for the MeSH vocabulary. Thus, the length of the unique identifier for elements such as Descriptors and Supplementary Concept Records will expand from 7 to 10 characters. 8-character unique identifiers will expand to 10 characters. These changes will begin for unique identifiers created beginning April 15, 2013. The format of existing unique identifiers will not be changed.


    Examples:
    Record Type Existing Unique Identifiers Future Unique Identifiers
    Descriptor D064418 Dnnnnnnnnn
    SCR C578561 Cnnnnnnnnn
    Concept M0581777 Mnnnnnnnnn
    Term T837922 Tnnnnnnnnn

  • The following changes have been made to 2013 MeSH:

    • The MeSH Heading Tropical Diseases, new for 2013, has been deleted from 2013 MeSH.
    • The MeSH Heading Tropical Medicine has reverted back to its 2012 MeSH content.
    • The MeSH Heading Esomeprazole Sodium has been added to 2013 MeSH.
    • New MeSH XML files with these changes are available for download. These changes are effective in the MeSH Browser.

  • Stuart J. Nelson, MD retired on October 31, 2012 after 16 years as head of the MeSH Section.

  • 2013 MeSH in XML format is available for download. It is also available in ASCII format and MARC formats.

  • The default year in the MeSH Browser is 2013 MeSH with the alternative link providing access to 2012 MeSH. The MeSH Section will continue to provide access via the MeSH Browser for two years of the vocabulary: the current year and an alternative year. There will be a default file with access to an alternative year through a link on the Browser entry page.

  • Tammy Powell has been selected as a Health Program Specialist with responsibilities for UMLS and RxNorm.

  • Jerry Onyeador, a rising senior at Charles Flowers High, completed an 8 week student internship this summer in the MeSH Section. His project characterized the rate of growth of the MeSH vocabulary from 1963 to 2007.

  • Doug Johnston retired on June 29, 2012 after 26 years with the National Library of Medicine.

  • Dr. Miranda Jarnot joined the MeSH Section as a MeSH Analyst on June 4, 2012.

  • Dr. Dan Cho has been promoted to the position of Senior MeSH Analyst.