NAME

Bio::DB::MeSH - Term retrieval from a Web MeSH database

SYNOPSIS

my $mesh = Bio::DB::MeSH->new();
my $term = $mesh->get_exact_term('Butter');
print $term->description;

DESCRIPTION

This class retrieves a term from the Medical Subject Headings database by the National Library of Medicine of USA. See http://www.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/meshhome.html. It uses the latest data available (updates happen on weekdays). If it fails, an archive cgi scripts accessing older data from previous year is used.

This class implements Bio::SimpleAnalysisI and wraps its methods under get_exact_term.

By default, web access uses WWW::Mechanize, but in its absence falls back to bioperl module Bio::WebAgent which is a subclass of LWP::UserAgent.

SEE ALSO

Bio::Phenotype::MeSH::Term

FEEDBACK

Mailing Lists

User feedback is an integral part of the evolution of this and other Bioperl modules. Send your comments and suggestions preferably to the Bioperl mailing lists Your participation is much appreciated.

bioperl-l@bioperl.org                  - General discussion
http://bioperl.org/wiki/Mailing_lists  - About the mailing lists

Support

Please direct usage questions or support issues to the mailing list:

bioperl-l@bioperl.org

rather than to the module maintainer directly. Many experienced and reponsive experts will be able look at the problem and quickly address it. Please include a thorough description of the problem with code and data examples if at all possible.

Reporting Bugs

report bugs to the Bioperl bug tracking system to help us keep track the bugs and their resolution. Bug reports can be submitted via the web:

https://github.com/bioperl/bioperl-live/issues

AUTHOR

Heikki Lehvaslaiho, heikki-at-bioperl-dot-org

APPENDIX

The rest of the documentation details each of the object methods. Internal methods are usually preceded with a _

get_exact_term

Title   : get_exact_term
Usage   : $s = $db->get_exact_term($value);
Function: Retrive a single MeSH term using a unique ID or exact name.
Example :
Returns : a Bio::Phenotype::MeSH::Term object
Args    : scalar, UID or name of a MeSH term

The returned term object contains information about the immediate vincinity of the term in the terminology hierarchy. See Bio::Phenotype::MeSH::Twig.