On Doctoring MEDLINE searches, with reference librarian comments, March 2000

The question was

What options are available in treating adult gout?

1     exp Gout/dh,dt,rh,th [Diet Therapy, Drug Therapy,    results=282   
Rehabilitation, Therapy]
2     limit 1 to (local holdings and english language and adult <    results=39   
19 to 44 years >)
3     "new england journal of medicine".jn.    results=11486   
4     2 and 3    results= 0   
5     1 and 3    results= 2   

Reference Librarian comments

Good job. (You "exploded" the MeSH term; you LIMITED results of set 1, etc.)

I decided to try my hand at the search, pretty much following your ideas. But I added "prevention and control" to the subheadings, made "gout" be the FOCUS of articles, and I broadened my idea of adults a little.

Here's my strategy, which gave 48 references to look at.

1
exp *Gout/dh,pc,dt,rh,th [Diet Therapy, Prevention & Control, Drug Therapy, Rehabilitation, Therapy]
139

2
limit 1 to (english language and (adult < 19 to 44 years > or middle age < 45 to 64 years > or "aged < 65 and over >"))
48