SNOW-MED

We have developed a system based on SNOW-MED to extract medical information from herbal texts. SNOW-MED is a semantic index that recognizes relationships between groups of words [26], For example, the semantic map for thrush is related to yeast, infection, and microbe. Although this system may eventually allow a potential pharmacological function to be extrapolated, we are currently using the system to simply extract disorders from the text. We have used the Mayo Vocabulary Server to perform this data mining [34, 35]. 

Incorporating the Kirtas system with the International Plant Names Index and SNOW-MED allows movement of the historic text into an electronic format, identihcation of current plant names, and identihcation of the symptoms treated with the plants. To complete the mining of historic herbal texts for novel drug leads we use the Natural Products Alert (NAPRALERT ) database to compare the information extracted from the historic herbal text to the reports of plant use in the current literature. The NAPRALERT database provides a summary of plants ethnopharmacological use, biochemical activities, and isolated compounds [27]. By querying each plant (with the current plant name) it is possible to identify any reports in the current literature regarding the plant. As an example, Table 4.1 shows the NAPRALERT output for Cycas rumphii. 

Snow RJ, Abeywardane A, Campbell S, Lord J, Kashem MA, Rhine HH, King J, Kowalski JA, Pullen SS, Roma T, Roth GP, Sarko CR, Wilson NS, Winters MP, Wolak JP, Cywin CL (2007) Bioorg Med Chem Lett 17 3660... 

Snow V, Weiss KB, LeFevre M, et al. Management of newly detected atrial fibrillation a clinical practice guideline from the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American College of Physicians. Ann Intern Med 2003 139 1009-1017. 

Snow V, Weiss K, Wall EM, Mottur-Pilson C. Pharmacologic management of acute attacks of migraine and prevention of migraine headache. Ann Intern Med 2002 137 840-849. 

Data from Snow V, Weiss K, Wall EM, Mottur-Pilson C. Pharmacologic management of acute attacks of migraine and prevention of migraine headache. Ann Intern Med 2002 137 840-849 and Diamond M, Cady R. Initiating and optimizing acute therapy for migraine The role of patient[Pg.614]

Mallams AK, Njoroge FG, Doll RJ, Snow ME, Kaminski JJ, Rossmann RR, Vibulbhan B, Bishop WR, Kirschmeier P, Carruthers NI, Wong JK (1997) Bioorg Med Chem 5 93... 

Kaminski, J.J., Rane, D.F., Snow, M.E., Weber, L, and Rothofsky, M.L Identification of novel farnesyl protein transferase inhibitors using three-dimensional database searching methods./. Med. Chem. 1997, 40, 4103-4112. 

Dugar S, Kirkup MP, Clader JW, Lin SI, Rizvi R, Snow ME, Davis HR, McColombie SW (1995) Bioorg Med Chem Lett 5 2947... 

Calkins D, Snow C, Costello M, Bentley TB. Evaluation of possible battlefield tourniquet systems for the far-forward setting. Mil Med 2000 165 379-84. 

Snow V, Barry P, Fitterman N, Qaseem A, K Weiss for the Clinical Efficacy Assessment Subcommittee of the American College of Physicians (2005) Pharmacologic and Surgical Management of Obesity in Primary Care A Clinical Practice Guideline from the American College of Physicians. Ann Intern Med 142 525-531... 

Abernethy DR, Schwartz JB, Todd EL, Luchi R, Snow E. Verapamil pharmacodynamics and disposition in young versus elderly hypertensive patients. Ann Int Med 1986 105 329-36. 

Snow CE. Laboratory diagnosis of vitamin B12 and folate deficiency. Arch Intern Med 1999 159 1289-1298. 

Snow V, Mottur-Pilson C, Gonzales R, for the American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine. Principles of appropriate antibiotic use for treatment of nonspecific upper respiratory tract infections in adults. Ann Intern Med 2001 134 487 89. 

Lippa B, Morris J, Corbett M, Kwan TA, Noe MC, Snow SL, Gant TG, Mangia-racina M, Coffey HA, Foster B, Knauth EA, Wessel MD (2006) Bioorg Med Chem Lett 16 3444... 

Johnsen BA and Blanch JH (1984). Analysis of snow samples contaminated with chemical warfare agents, Arch Belg Med Soc, Supplement. In ... 

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