MeSH词之 概念

XML格式的MeSH中,语义相近的词(Term)被归为一个概念(Concept),概念与补充概念词(Supplementary Concept Records)不同,请勿混淆.每个主题词有多个概念构成,每个概念又由多个同义词构成,例如:

Cardiomegaly [Descriptor] Cardiomegaly [Concept, Preferred] Cardiomegaly [Term, Preferred] Enlarged Heart [Term] Heart Enlargement [Term] Cardiac Hypertrophy [Concept, Narrower] Cardiac Hypertrophy [Term, Preferred] Heart Hypertrophy [Term] 心脏肥大(cardiomegaly)这个主题词由2个概念,5个同义词构成. 每个概念(concept)用最常用的同义词(Term)命名,同理每个主题词用最常用的概念命名. 由此可以得出: 主题词(descriptor)=最常用的同义词(Term)

同一概念内的同义词可能差别不大,但是隶属于不同概念之间的同义词的意义可能相去甚远.

AIDS Dementia

拿这个复杂的主题词举例,它有3个概念,12个同义词.

AIDS Dementia Complex [Descriptor]

1. AIDS Dementia Complex [Concept, Preferred]
   • AIDS Dementia Complex [Term, Preferred]
   • Acquired-Immune Deficiency Syndrome Dementia Complex [Term]
   • AIDS-Related Dementia Complex [Term]
   • HIV Dementia [Term]
   • Dementia Complex, Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome [Term]
   • Dementia Complex, AIDS-Related [Term]
2. HIV Encephalopathy [Concept, Narrower]
   • HIV Encephalopathy [Term, Preferred]
   • AIDS Encephalopathy [Term]
   • Encephalopathy, HIV [Term, Preferred]
   • Encephalopathy, AIDS [Term]
3. HIV-1-Associated Cognitive Motor Complex [Concept, Narrower]
   • HIV-1-Associated Cognitive Motor Complex [Term, Preferred]
   • HIV-1 Cognitive and Motor Complex [Term]

Exercise

Exercise [Descriptor]

1. Exercise [Concept, Preferred]
   • Exercise [Term, Preferred]
   • Exercise, Physical [Term]
2. Exercise, Aerobic [Concept, Narrower]
   • Exercise, Aerobic [Term, Preferred]
   • Aerobic Exercise [Term]
3. Exercise, Isometric [Concept, Narrower]
   • Exercise, Isometric [Term, Preferred]
   • Isometric Exercise [Term]

Aspirin

再举个化学物质的例子

Aspirin [Descriptor]

1. Aspirin [Concept, Preferred]
   • Aspirin [Term, Preferred]
   • Acetylsalicylic Acid [Term]
   • 2-(Acetyloxy)benzoic Acid [Term]

2. Solprin [Concept, Narrower] Solprin [Term, Preferred]

3. Ecotrin [Concept, Narrower] Ecotrin [Term, Preferred]

这种标准的三层结构仅用于呈现一个主题词,主题词与主题词之间的结构用MeSH树状结构表示.MeSH的XML文件中包含这两种结构.

目前MeSH Concept并未应用于Medline索引,PubMed搜索,但它已经在其他领域大展身手,比如供分析师创建更新MeSH词,与统一医学语言系统(Unified Medical Language System,UMLS)整合,构建MeSH翻译维护系统(MeSH Translation Maintenance System).在未来的日子里,MeSH concept一定能在高级信息检索中获得更高层次的应用.

更多信息

1. “Concepts, synonyms, and Descriptor structure” in Introduction to MeSH in XML format.

2. NLM Technical Bulletin article Changes in MeSH Data Structure (includes the example “AIDS Dementia Complex”).

3. The poster presentation Redefining a Thesaurus (includes the example “Exercise”).

4. Book Chapter Relationships in Medical Subject Headings.

5. The section “Concept Structure of MeSH” in the article The MeSH Translation Maintenance System and the related slide presentation The MeSH Translation Database (includes the example “Cardiomegaly”).

6. Articles Tracking Meaning Over Time in the UMLS® Metathesaurus®, and Beyond Synonymy: Exploiting the UMLS Semantics in Mapping Vocabularies, which explicate the role of Concepts in the UMLS Metathesaurus.