Medical Subject Headings | |
1. Introduction
A special file of Pharmacological Action (PA) data is
available in XML format. The file is independent of other MeSH
files in XML format but uses some of the same techniques for
representing data, such as referring to Descriptors by the
element <DescriptorReferredTo> and its sub-elements, so
users may find it helpful to consult Introduction to XML MeSH.
The file consists of mappings between Pharmacological Action
Descriptors, on the one hand, and substances having a particular
action, on the other. Substances include both Descriptor records
and Supplementary Concept Records (SCRs). These mappings include
the PA data in the full XML files but also include as
<PharmacologicalAction> selected Descriptors which are
ancestors of a PA in the MeSH Tree
hierarchy. These ancestors may be other PAs or Descriptors
which may be too broad to be associated with a specific
substance, but useful for grouping a larger set of
substances.
For example, the substance Albuterol has the PA Bronchodilator Agents in the full MeSH files.
Substance = | Albuterol |
PA = | Bronchodilator Agents |
A broader Descriptor of the PA is Autonomic Agents, though not a PA itself.
Ancestor of PA = | Autonomic Agents |
PA = | Bronchodilator Agents |
Substance = | Albuterol |
It is desirable to treat the Autonomic Agents as a PA for retrieval purposes so this Descriptor included in the PA file as a <PharmacologicalAction> of Albuterol.
2. File structure
The file is a list of Pharmacological Actions with corresponding substances.
Pharmacological Action | Substance |
---|---|
Antacids | Aluminum Hydroxide |
aluminum phosphate |
3. XML elements:
Element Name | Description |
---|---|
<DescriptorName> | Name (= preferred term) of the Pharmacological Action (PA) Descriptor. |
<DescriptorReferredTo> | The pair consisting in both the name and UI of the PA Descriptor. |
<DescriptorUI> | Seven-digit Unique Identifier of the PA Descriptor. |
<PharmacologicalActionSubstanceList> | The list of all substances under a given PA. |
<PharmacologicalAction> | A given Pharmacological Action (PA) Descriptor. |
<PharmacologicalActionSet> | The parent element of the entire XML file of PAs. |
<RecordName> | Name (= preferred term) of the substance record. |
<RecordUI> | Unique Identifier of the substance record. |
<String> | The character string comprising the PA name and substance name. |
<Substance> | The pair consisting in both the name and UI of the substance record. |
4. Availability
The file is updated weekly, primarily to include changes in the SCR PAs which may change during the year.
Through 2007 a second PA file was available - a listing by substance. However, the file was redundant since the data may be extracted from the full Descriptor XML file.
For questions concerning the content of the MeSH Tree
Structures, contact:
For questions concerning distribution, format, etc., contact:
Last updated: 15 October 2007
First published: 15 October 2007
Metadata| Permanence level: Permanent: Dynamic Content