Effects of age on strength and morphology of toe flexor muscles

Study Design: Cross-sectional. 27 Objective: To compare the strength and size of the toe flexor muscles of older adults relative 28 to their younger counterparts. 29 Background: Age related muscle atrophy is common in lower limb muscles and we therefore 30 speculated that foot muscles also diminish with age. However, there is a paucity of literature 31 characterizing foot muscle strength and morphology, and any relationship between these two, 32 in older people. 33 Methods: Seventeen young adults with a normal foot type were matched by gender and BMI 34 to 17 older adults with a normal foot type, from an available sample of 41 young (18-50 35 years) and 44 older (60+ years) adults. Among the matched groups (n=34), muscle thickness 36 and cross-sectional area (CSA) for five intrinsic and two extrinsic toe flexor muscles were 37 obtained using ultrasound. Toe strength was assessed using a pressure platform. Differences 38 in toe flexor strength and muscle size between the young and older matched groups were 39 determined using ANCOVA (controlling for height). Correlations between strength and size 40 of the toe flexor muscles of the pooled group (n=34) were also calculated. 41 Results: Toe strength and the thickness and CSA of most foot muscles and were significantly 42 reduced in the older adults (P<0.05). Hallux and toe flexor strength were strongly correlated 43 with the size of the intrinsic muscles toe flexor muscles. 44 Conclusion: The smaller foot muscles appear to be affected by sarcopenia in older adults. 45 This could contribute to reduced toe flexion force production and affect the ability of older 46 people to walk safely. Interventions aimed at reversing foot muscle atrophy in older people 47 require further investigation

Application of In Situ FTIR for the Preparation of 17-α-Estradiol via Mitsunobu Reaction

An efficient synthesis of 17-α-estradiol <b>1</b> is described. Utilization of in situ IR allowed for an online monitoring of the key Mitsunobu reaction and development of a safe and reliable synthesis of 17-α-estradiol <b>1</b> in 78% overall yield over three steps. Benzoylation of 17-β-estradiol <b>2</b> is conducted at high regioselectivity under phase-transfer catalysis (PTC) conditions, followed by a Mitsunobu reaction to invert the chiral center at C-17 and provide intermediate <b>5</b>, containing the core structure of 17-α-estradiol <b>1</b>. Finally, the desired active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) is prepared by saponification of the remaining esters