The search term and any of its synonyms will be searched.

Example: typing gallstone into the search box will retrieve any articles with the term gall stone; gallstone; cholelithiasis; cholecystolithiasis; biliary calculi; or biliary stone, among others.

If you only want articles that refer to only a single term, then enclose that term in quote marks (synonyms and alternative spellings will not be searched).

Example: typing "gallstone" into the search box will only retrieve articles with the found term gallstone.

All available synonyms for terms entered consecutively or separated by AND or OR will be used in the search strategy.

Example 1: typing either anorexient sibutramine or anorexient AND sibutramine into the search box retrieves all of the articles that contain both search terms or any combination of synonyms to each of the terms: anorexient /sibutramine; anorexient / Meridia; appetite depressant / sibutramine; appetite depressant /Meridia; anorectic / sibutramine; and anorectic / Meridia.

Example 2: complex searches will follow the Boolean syntax. If you’re looking for bronchopulmonary dysplasia OR chronic lung disease then the search will re-format the string as following: (bronchopulmonary AND dysplasia) OR (chronic AND lung AND disease).

A concept represented by a phrase can be searched by entering its composite terms into the search box. The search phrase and any of its synonyms that we have implemented will be searched. Note that surrounding the phrase in quote marks will search for that exact phrase; synonyms and alternative spellings will not be searched.

Example: typing body mass index into the search box will retrieve all articles containing the phrases body mass index; BMI; Quetelet’s Index; Quetelet Index; and Quetelets Index.

When an asterisk (*) is used at the end of a word or partially completed word, alternative word endings are used in the search strategy.

Example: typing cardio* will retrieve articles that contain the terms cardiovascular, cardiogenic, cardiopulmonary, cardiotocography, cardiorespiratory, and cardioversion, among others.

Enclose the exact title (or portion of it) in quote marks. Note that no synonyms will be searched when quote marks are used.

Example: typing “Being big or growing fast” into the search box will retrieve the following article: Being big or growing fast: systematic review of size and growth in infancy and later obesity.

A search strategy can be refined to reduce the number of hits and better target your information need.

Choose one or more specialties from the Specialties list to specify that article hits match specific specialties. Hold down the Ctrl button while making subsequent selections.

Choose one or more clinical research purpose category from the Categories list to specify that article hits are aligned with Therapy Prevention, Quality Improvement, Diagnosis, Prognosis, Etiology, Economics, Clinical Prediction Guide, or Differential Diagnosis. Hold down the Ctrl button while making subsequent selections.

Choose a clinical setting from the Settings list to specify that article hits are aligned with Inpatient, or Not Inpatient.

Choose one or more age range from the Age list to specify that article hits are aligned with Neonates, Pediatrics, Adolescents, Adults, or Geriatrics. Hold down the Ctrl button while making subsequent selections.

Choose either original or review from the Article Type list to specify that article hits are original research studies or systematic review studies.