This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
  1. KudoZ™ Top
  2. English
  3. Medical (general)

modulated

English translation: changed

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
English term or phrase:modulated
Selected answer:changed
Entered by: Nam Vo

05:05 Jul 12, 2016
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Medical - Medical (general) / asthma
English term or phrase: modulated
Context:

Researchers from Finland’s University of Turku (Ouwehand et al. 2008) gave a placebo, Bifidobacteriumlongum, or Bifidobacteriumlactis Bb-12 to 55 institutionalized elderly subjects for 6 months.

Conclusion:
The probiotic groups showed modulated pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-alpha and cytokine IL-10 levels compared with the placebo group.
-------------------
End of context.

I kind of don't understand the conclusion. Is that what they wanted to say?
So compared with the placebo group, the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-alpha and cytokine IL-10 were modulated.

If that is, then what does the term "modulated" here mean?

I understand that they mentioned this research to prove the positive effects of supplementing Bifidobacteriumlongum, or Bifidobacteriumlactis Bb-12.
But "modulated"doesn't seem to have a clear positive meaning.

Thanks.
Nam Vo
Vietnam
Local time: 16:20
changed
Explanation:
Just sounds a bit fancier than "changed"

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 36 mins (2016-07-12 05:42:15 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

The sentence does not directly state either positive or negative results, nor increase or decrease. The vague expression suggests that there were both increases and decreases, maybe depending on conditions, time, cytokine or whatever.
Selected response from:

Jörgen Slet
Estonia
Local time: 12:20
Grading comment
Thank you!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
4 +4changed
Jörgen Slet
3 +2adjusted to a certain degree
Yasutomo Kanazawa


Discussion entries: 2





  

Answers


14 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +4
changed


Explanation:
Just sounds a bit fancier than "changed"

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 36 mins (2016-07-12 05:42:15 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

The sentence does not directly state either positive or negative results, nor increase or decrease. The vague expression suggests that there were both increases and decreases, maybe depending on conditions, time, cytokine or whatever.

Jörgen Slet
Estonia
Local time: 12:20
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EstonianEstonian
PRO pts in category: 16
Grading comment
Thank you!
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks, Jörgen. When talking about levels of something, I expect to see some words like increase or decrease or something like that, but this term is too general (not sure if it increased or decreased). It's kind of weird.

Asker: I see the point now. Thank you, Jörgen and also thanks, Tony :)


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Tony M: Yes, 'caused to vary' = 'has an effect on'
5 mins
  -> thank you
agree  Siegfried Armbruster
23 mins
  -> thank you
agree  Yvonne Gallagher: yes , modulated best word imo but (showed) "changed" or "slightly-changed" as adjective rather than verb also work
3 hrs
agree  Michael Barnett
17 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

15 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +2
adjusted to a certain degree


Explanation:
The word "modulated" means "to regulate or adjust to a certain degree"

http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/modulate

From the above context, subjects who were given placebos didn't show any difference in their pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-alpha and cytokine IL-10 levels. However, subjects in the probiotic groups showed various levels of pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-alpha and cytokine IL-10. Cytokine is a small group of proteins which are important in cell signaling.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cytokine

Therefore, the probiotic group adjusted their cytokine levels to a certain degree where the non-probiotic group dosed with placebo didn't show any changes in the cytokine levels.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 hrs (2016-07-12 08:58:19 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

@N.VG
Yes, you're right.

Yasutomo Kanazawa
Japan
Local time: 18:20
Native speaker of: Native in JapaneseJapanese
PRO pts in category: 24
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks Yasutomo, so I supposed I should add something and change the sentence to some sort of like "the probiotic group adjusted their cytokine levels positively" to make the translation sound better.


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Tony M: Yes, they are purposely being careful not to say 'increased' or 'decreased' — this is simply that there was some effect on the levels (one way or the other)
6 mins
  -> Thank you Tony-san!
agree  acetran
9 hrs
  -> Thank you very much!
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

Return to KudoZ list

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.

See also:
ProZ.com term search
Search millions of term translations
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search