英文醫學論文中數量的常用表達

魏莎莎，余黨會

(海軍軍醫大學教研保障中心出版社《海軍軍醫大學學報》編輯部，上海 200433)

古希臘畢達哥拉斯學派認為“萬物皆數”?？梢姀墓胖两駭盗颗c人類發展都密切相關。英文醫學論文因經常需要提及各類實驗統計數據等，其寫作相對于普通寫作和其他科技論文寫作來說有許多特殊之處。掌握正確規范的數量表達形式，對英文醫學論文的科學性和規范性意義重大[1]。不僅如此，準確的數量表達對醫學論文的出版和傳播也至關重要[2]。筆者總結了英文醫學論文中常用的幾種數量表達形式。

1 數量的表達

醫學論文中各種數量的表達使用較多，幾乎每篇文章都會涉及一種或多種數量的表達。數量的準確表達對醫學論文來說至關重要，容不得半點差錯。Robert Day博士[3]認為，在英文醫學論文中0到10之間的整數宜用英語全拼，其余的應當采用阿拉伯數字。但在實際寫作中，即使是0到10之間的整數也被阿拉伯數字所代替，這一點已為國際上大多數期刊所認可，如：In COX-1 indirect pathways, women experienced the same or more platelet inhibition than men in 8 of the 9 assays yet retained modestly greater platelet reactivity after aspirin therapy. (摘自四大醫學期刊之一的《美國醫學會雜志》The Journal of the American Medical Association[JAMA])。

需要注意的是，一般情況下應盡量避免將阿拉伯數字直接放于句首，遇到這類情況，可通過在句首的數字前加修飾詞來避免，如：(A total of 或Totally) 280 patients were enrolled；若無法避免，則采用英文全拼，如：Seventy-five patients (68.2%) who screened positive for bipolar disorder had a current major depressive episode or an anxiety or substance use disorder. (摘自JAMA)。

一般數量的出現形式有單純數量、序數、數量范圍、比例和率、數量的變化(倍數)及特殊數量(均值、極值、其他形容詞)的表達等，以下將分別舉例說明。

1.1 單純數量

單純數量的表達有下面幾種情況：

A：Urinary retention was noted in 5 patients (8.3%).

B：Tendons were harvested from euthanatized horses 1, 2, 4, 8, or 24 weeks following injury.

C：Ten of 19 eyes (53%) had a posterior vitreous detachment, 或者Out of (Among) the 100 patients, 10 (10%) showed hallux extension uni or bilateral, 或者 Ten (10%) out of the 100 patients showed hallux extension uni or bilateral.

D：The mean Knee Society knee scores, functional scores, and Tegner scores, available for 9 of these 10 knees, were 80, 97, and 4.2, respectively.

此外，要注意多位數、小數、分數的書寫和表達。

1.2 序數

序數詞是用來表示順序的詞，英語中的序數詞在構成上由其相應的基數詞變化而來，要注意拼寫比較特殊的序數詞：first, second, third, fifth, eighth, ninth, twelfth，其余的在相應的基數詞后加“th”即可。

A：Blood samples were obtained following the first and fifth doses.

B：More than two fifths of children are exposed to passive smoking which is associated with increased prevalence of chronic cough, wheezing, running nose and sneezing without cold.

C：The youngest one-third of pupils had significantly lower average school grades than the middle one-third and oldest one-third of their classmates.

D：Conversations were recorded, transcribed by a third party, and coded by 2 independent assessors using standard grounded theory methods.

E：Primary hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the most common malignancies and has the fourth highest mortality rate worldwide.

F：Today is July 25th, 2022.

1.3 數量的范圍

A：A greater number of case reports were received for children aged 1-9 years and for adults aged 30-39 years compared with other age groups.

B：The respondents scored their ability (range, 1-5).

C：The overall structure of IFN-tau is maintained across a pH range of 2-8.

D：The distance from the orbital rim to each MNJ in the 6 extraocular muscles ranged from 24.4 to 33.6 mm and the width of each MNJ ranged from 5.0 to 8.5 mm.

E：In pregnant sheep, galectin-15 mRNA expression appeared in the epithelia between days 10 and 12 and increased between days 12 and 16.

1.4 比例和率

在英文醫學論文中，表示比例、率等概念的詞有：rate, ratio, proportion, incidence, prevalence等。

A：The 1- and 2-year survival rates were 92% and 87%, respectively.

B：The ratio of male to female patients decreased from 1.7:1 to 1.3:1.

C：The median proportion of normally shaped spermatozoa was 15%, and the proportion of motile spermatozoa was 21%.

D：The incidences adverse events were similar in the simeprevir and placebo groups at 12 weeks (246 [96%]vs 130 [97%]).

E：The prevalence of depression was 15.5% in women with urinary incontinence and only 9.2%in women without urinary incontinence.

F：Over three-quarters of all participants reported at least one type of victim experience.

G：The products were diluted 1:100 and 1:1 000 for testing.

1.5 數量的變化(倍數)

涉及具體變化量的表達時常用詞有：increase, decrease, raise, rise, drop, lower, reduce,decline, up-regulate, down-regulate, elevate, double等。下面以increase為例進行說明。

A：increasedxtimes (folds)，增加了x倍。

The median survival time increased 2-3 times relative to untreated controls.

B：increased by a factor ofx，增加了x倍。

Our results suggest that the prevalence of T1D is increased by a factor of 4 in young adults with IGE.

C：increased byxtimes (folds)，增加了x倍。

Among teens, the prevalence has increased by 2-3 times in recent decades.

D：increased toxtimes (folds)，增加到x倍。

ApoE levels in the experimental mice increased to 4 times the apoE levels of normal mice.

E：increased byx，增加了x。

The maximum jump height increased by 8 cm in group A.

F：increasedx，增加了x.

The most proximal descending thoracic aneurysm increased 2 cm in 2 weeks.

G：increased tox，增加到x。

The specific activity of AtsPLA2-alpha continuously increased as the Ca2+concentration was increased to 10 mM.

H：increased fromytox，從y增加到x。

One of the suspected metastases in the left lung increased from 1 cm to 2 cm.

1.6 特殊數量(均值、極值、其他形容詞)表達

在英文醫學論文中，有時需要在數量前面加上一定的修飾詞來表示特定意義的量值，有時候甚至不需要數字，只需要用文字來說明數值。

A：Mean (Average)，表示“均數”，如，

The mean age at operation was 29 (12-46) years.

B：Median，表示“中位數”，如：

All patients were women and had a median age of 62 years.

C：Many (much, a lot of, a great deal of, a great number of, a large quantity of, a great amount of, more)，表示“多”，如：

This neurodegenerative syndrome shares pathobiological features with frontotemporal dementia and, indeed, many patients show features of both diseases.

D：Few (little, less)，表示“少”，如：

There are few data directly comparing the effects of physical activity and body weight on cardiovascular biomarkers.

E：A few ( a little)，表示“一些”或“少許”，如：

Only a few articles have described the complications of parotid gland surgery and their management.

F：Maximal value (maximum, peak, the highest level, peaked)，表示“最大值”，如：

Their plasma levels decline to less than 20% of their maximal value during aging.

G：Minimal value (minimum, the lowest level)，表示“最小值”，如：

Following i.v. bolus, CV ranges between a minimal value of 0.307 (1-ln2) and infinity.

H：Most (majority)，表示“大部分”，如：

Most patients had recurrent headache after treatment.

I：Totally (a total of, altogether, whole)，表示“全部”，如：

Totally, 136 species from 51 families were documented from which 120 species used as medicinal and 84 species mentioned by 3 or more informants.

J：Sufficient (adequate, enough)，表示“足夠”，如：

We tested whether a single injection of OT (i.v.) is sufficient to initiate the PRL secretion pattern of OVX/CS rats.

K：Over (above, more than)，表示“多于”或“大于”，如：

Nine patients had a residual urine volume over 200 mL.

L：Under (below, less than)，表示“少于”或“小于”，如：

MR images showed milder osteonecrosis in patients who were under 10 years old at the time of primary diagnosis.

M：About (approximately, some, nearly, more or less, around)，表示“大約”，如：

Eligible patients had tumors of about 5 cm were poor surgical candidates or otherwise warranted nephron sparing treatment.

N：None (nil, null, zero)，表示“無”或“零”，如：

None of the patient in this cohort was eligible for surgical treatment.

O：Dozen，表示“十二”，如：

More than a dozen studies on the effectiveness of the 0.08 blood alcohol concentration (BAC)laws have been published.

P：Quarter，表示“四分之一”，如：

Almost a quarter of the patients presenting an ADR were prescribed drugs considered inappropriate for the elderly.

Q：Score，表示“二十”，如：

Three scores of patients were included in this study.

R：Double，表示“增至二倍”，如：

Between 1979 and 1999, the number of physicians doubled in the sample states.

S：Triple，表示“增至三倍”，如：

The incidence of obesity has more than tripled for children 6 to 11 years of age.

T：Quadruple，表示“增至四倍”，如：

The mean capillary flow velocity of all patients more than quadrupled after treatment.

U：Quintuple，表示“增至五倍”，如：

In the past 11 years, the cumulative number of AIDS cases in adults quintupled.

2 常見的數量表達錯誤

數量表達方面的錯誤是英文醫學論文中常見的語法錯誤之一。這里列舉了一些我們在日常工作中遇到的一些常見的數字表達錯誤，希望有所幫助。

2.1 句首用阿拉伯數字

錯誤：12 studies involving 616 patients were included.

正確：A total of 12 studies involving 616 patients were included.

2.2 序數詞拼寫錯誤

錯誤：ICOS expression in the allograft and allograft with tacrolimus ceased group gradually increased on the 3th, 5thand 7thday.

正確：ICOS expression in the allograft and allograft with tacrolimus ceased group gradually increased on the 3rd, 5thand 7thday.

2.3 兩組數字連用時都用阿拉伯數字

兩組數字連續出現時，其中一個用英文，另一個用阿拉伯數字。

錯誤：The patients were randomly assigned to a cross-over protocol with 2 4-week periods.

正確：The patients were randomly assigned to a cross-over protocol with two 4-week periods.

2.4 數量變化的表達錯誤

有些作者撰寫英文醫學論文時習慣先用中文寫完后再翻譯成英文。這種情況就需要特別注意，否則差之毫厘，謬以千里。

同樣以increase為例，作者想表達“……增加了20%”。

錯誤：…increase to 20%.

正確：…increase by 20%.

2.5 幾個特殊率的錯誤表達

2.5.1 發病率(incidence)和患病率(prevalence)

發病率(incidence)是指某地區某時期(一般為 1年)人群中新發某疾病的頻率，用于描述某種疾病危險性大小?；疾÷?prevalence)是指某地區某時點(或時期)人群中某疾病新舊病例數所占比例，用于描述某一時點(或時期)某種病例存在的多少。如不注意，常見各種誤用。

錯誤：The overall incidence of chronic kidney disease was 10.8% (10.2-11.3); therefore the number of patients with chronic kidney disease in China is estimated to be about 119.5 million(112.9-125.0 million).

正確：The overall prevalence of chronic kidney disease was 10.8% (10.2-11.3); therefore the number of patients with chronic kidney disease in China is estimated to be about 119.5 million(112.9-125.0 million).

2.5.2 死亡率(mortality)和病死率(fatality)

死亡率(mortality)是指在某時期內因某病死亡人數占總人口數的比例，用于描述某時期死于某病的頻率。病死率(fatality)是指在某時期內因某病死亡人數占同期患某病人數的比例，用于描述某種特定疾病的嚴重程度?？梢妰烧叻帜覆煌?，從中文解釋上看，差異很明顯，但翻譯過程中卻很容易出錯。

錯誤：The disease can cause severe morbidity and, since 2005, mortality.

正確：The disease can cause severe morbidity and, since 2005, fatality.

3 結束語

數量相關的表達本身存在不少難點，再加之醫學論文本身的特殊性，讓英文醫學論文數量表達的研究更具必要性。醫學英語因涉及醫學領域，其英文語體具有自身的特點，數字的使用及數量的增減表述都是醫學英語的重要組成部分，因而準確掌握好各種數量、增減表達的翻譯技巧非常關鍵[4]。

掌握以上各類數量的表達形式不僅是作者準確撰寫英文醫學論文的前提，也是醫學編輯更準確地理解和傳播醫學最新成果的重要保障。編輯不僅需要通過不斷學習、不斷擴展自己的專業學科知識[5]，也需要不斷提升自己對語言(中、英文)的精準表達和理解能力，從而保證學術出版和傳播的準確性。