Genomics|Search|Glossary

Detailed descriptions of each information source found in GDPInfo

Although the intended audience for documents found within GDPInfo is public health professionals (researchers, policy makers, and practitioners), some information sources will interest the general public. GDPInfo Disclaimer

Books: A collection of online books on genomics, public health, and genetic epidemiology.

Book chapters: A collection of online book chapters specifically focused on genomics, public health, and genetic epidemiology.

Conferences, courses, and workshops: Agendas and summaries from conferences, courses, and workshops that centered on genomics, genetics and public health practice or the genetics of specific conditions.

Fact sheets: One to two page summaries of selected topics in genomics relevant to public health.

GeneReviews: Expert-authored, peer-reviewed, disease-specific reviews describing the application of genetic testing to the diagnosis, management, and genetic counseling of patients and families with hereditary disorders, and providing links to related resources and databases. See GeneTests/GeneClinics.

Genetic competencies: Genetic knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary for the effective practice of public health.

Genetic test reviews: Systematic assessments of data and information related to the analytical validity; clinical validity; clinical utility; and ethical, legal, and social implications for selected genetic tests. Also known as ACCE reports.

Genetic test briefs: Summaries of genetic test reviews.

Genotype Prevalence Table: For selected genes found in the Genotype Prevalence database , each table includes a description of the study population, references to the published report or the researcher's contact information, and genotype frequency data that are stratified by geographic area, and in some instances, race and gender.

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HuGE Case Studies: Examinations of specific gene-disease associations with questions and discussion that can be used to teach concepts of human genome epidemiology.

HuGE e-Journal Club: An electronic discussion forum where population-based studies of the impact of human genetic variation on health and disease are abstracted, summarized, presented, and discussed through the HuGENetT listserv.

HuGE Fact Sheets: Two to three page summaries of what is known about particular genes, their variants, and associated disease(s).

HuGE Published Literature: A collection of human genome epidemiology articles that were published in peer-reviewed literature and featured in the CDC Office of Genomics and Disease Prevention (OGDP) Weekly Update. Although OGDP attempts to identify all HuGE published literature each week, the process is limited by the information described in each title and abstract found in PubMed.

The database includes:

1) Reviews: Articles that review the scientific literature on single or multiple genes and their association with disease in epidemiologic studies (the review may not follow standard HuGE structure). Review articles have been identified weekly through PubMed since January 2002.

2) Epidemiologic studies: Population-based studies of the impact of human genetic variation on health and disease. Articles describe gene-disease associations, gene-gene or gene-environment interactions; provide genotype frequency data; or evaluate the use and impact of genetic tests. Articles describing gene discovery or associations in high-risk families or groups are not included.

How articles from PubMed are extracted: The method of extracting relevant articles involves both manual and computerized processes and includes a) identifying eligible articles in PubMed using a HuGE search algorithm; b) manually reviewing titles, abstracts and articles to identify articles that meet the HuGE criteria; c) importing bibliographic information into a relational database; d) manually indexing relevant articles by search terms (e.g. gene, disease, and personal or environmental factors); and e) performing quality checks within the completed database (e.g. removal of duplicates, completeness of data).

Who performs the extraction: Mindy Clyne, MHS, a certified genetic counselor and the former HuGENet Coordinator conducts the computerized process and has been manually reviewing abstracts for inclusion since October 14, 2000. Bruce K. Lin, MPH, current HuGENet Coordinator, assists with the quality review process.

Utility of database: Enables public health practitioners or researchers to quickly identify population-based studies of interest and to view current epidemiologic evidence. Researchers embarking on a new study can query the database as an initial step before conducting a more detailed PubMed search.

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HuGE Reviews: In-depth reviews using a standard structure that identifies a gene's allelic variants and describes what is known about the frequency of these variants in different populations, the association of these variants with disease, gene-gene and gene-environment interactions, and associated genetic tests. See detailed guidelines for HuGE Reviews.

On-line presentations: Multimedia (lectures, slides, audio, video) presentations on genetic and public health topics.

Other reports and publications: Published and unpublished literature covering a broad range of genetics and public health topics including health studies; genetic epidemiology methodology; laboratory practice issues; policy, guidelines, and ethics; and general disease or health services and programmatic information.

Public Health Perspective Series: Each Public Health Perspective focuses on a single topic and contains information and commentary about discoveries of genetic variants; related disease outcomes; and the complex social, legal, and ethical issues surrounding genetic discoveries. Topics are examined from a public health perspective, and readers are encouraged to participate in an ongoing discussion in the reader's forum.

Relevant links: Selection of genetics-related hyperlinks to federal and nonfederal agencies, institutions, and organizations, including disease-specific support groups.