NLM® Classification 2007 Edition Now Available
t he NLM Classification, available online at //wwwcf.nlm.nih.gov/class/, incorporates all additions and changes to the schedules and index from April 2006 through March 2007. The PDF version, originally launched October 2006 (see NLM® Classification Now Available in PDF Format. NLM Tech Bull. 2006 Nov-Dec; (353):e1), has been updated with 2007 classification data. The 2007 edition also includes a revised animated tutorial (Quick Tour) on searching the NLM Classification.
Major Changes
The WC (Communicable diseases) schedule was the major area of focus for the 2007 edition:
-
Some class number captions were revised to reflect current Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) terminology. For example:
- At WC 240, Septicemia was changed to Sepsis.
- At WC 400, Spirochete infections was changed to Spirochaetales infections.
-
A few instructional notes were added or modified to clarify classification practices. For example:
- At WC 142, the caption was changed from Control measures to Public health control measures, e.g., Contact tracing.
Class Numbers Added - 2007
New Number |
Class Name |
Former Number |
QU Biochemistry |
||
| QU 328 | Embryonic stem cells | QU 325 |
WC Communicable
Diseases
|
||
| WC 755.1 | General coverage (Not Table G) [Malaria epidemiology] | WC 755 |
WF Respiratory
System
|
||
| WF 205.1 | General coverage (Not Table G) [Tuberculosis epidemiology] | WF 205 |
WY Nursing |
||
| WY 23 | Collective (Institutes, etc.) | Various |
| WY 24 | Individual (Cutter from name of institution) | Various |
| WY 170 | Forensic Nursing | WY 150 |
Class Numbers Canceled - 2007
Canceled Number |
Class Name |
New Number |
WC Communicable
Diseases
|
||
| WC 593 | Cat-scratch disease | WC 640 |
Other Changes to the Schedule
- WC 755 and WF 205 were modified to allow the addition of Table G.
- Selected class number captions were augmented to clarify their scope, e.g., at W 740, Forensic psychology was added to the caption.
- Selected schedule captions were revised to reflect changes in MeSH, e.g., at WD 200.5.H8, Dyslipidemias was broadened to Lipid metabolism disorders.
- Various instructional notes were added or modified to clarify classification practices, e.g., a note was added at QU 300 (Cells) to clarify classification of cells of a particular tissue or organ.
Changes to the Index
Forty-five new index entries were created of which twenty-seven are from the 2007 MeSH; the remainder are MeSH terms from previous years.
Numerous main index entries and cross references were modified to reflect changes in the MeSH vocabulary. In particular, some major categories of index terms affected by MeSH changes were:
- Nutrition terms, e.g.,
- Child Nutrition to Child Nutrition Physiology
- Child Nutrition to Child Nutrition Physiology
-
Male versus Female distinction, e.g.,
- Circumcision changed to Male Circumcision
- Circumcision changed to Male Circumcision
- Bladder terms, e.g.:
- Bladder Diseases to Urinary Bladder Diseases
Various instructional notes were added to index entries to clarify classification practices. For example, to account more fully for their microbiology or public health aspects, classification guidance has been added to the index under certain food and beverage terms.
All index entries pertaining to the aforementioned schedule additions and changes were modified.
To learn more about the NLM Classification see the Fact Sheet.
Willis SR. NLM® Classification 2007 Edition Now Available. NLM Tech Bull. 2007 Mar-Apr;(355):e13.
