Characteristics of the Foot Static Alignment and the Plantar Pressure Associated with Fifth Metatarsal Stress Fracture History in Male Soccer Players: a Case-Control Study.

BACKGROUND: There is a large amount of information regarding risk factors for fifth metatarsal stress fractures; however, there are few studies involving large numbers of subjects. This study aimed to compare the static foot alignment and distribution of foot pressure of athletes with and without a history of fifth metatarsal stress fractures. METHODS: The study participants comprised 335 collegiate male soccer players. Twenty-nine with a history of fifth metatarsal stress fractures were in the fracture group and 306 were in the control group (with subgroups as follows: 30 in the fracture foot group and 28 in the non-fracture group). We measured the foot length, arch height, weight-bearing leg-heel alignment, non-weight-bearing leg-heel alignment, forefoot angle relative to the rearfoot, forefoot angle relative to the horizontal axis, and foot pressure. RESULTS: The non-weight-bearing leg-heel alignment was significantly smaller and the forefoot angle relative to the rearfoot was significantly greater in the fracture foot group than in the control foot group (P = 0.049 and P = 0.038, respectively). With regard to plantar pressure, there were no significant differences among the groups. Midfield players had significantly higher rates of fifth metatarsal stress fracture in their histories, whereas defenders had significantly lower rates (chi-square = 13.2, P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the frequency of fifth metatarsal stress fractures according to the type of foot (kicking foot vs. pivoting foot) or the severity of ankle sprain. CONCLUSIONS: Playing the midfield position and having an everted rearfoot and inverted forefoot alignment were associated with fifth metatarsal stress fractures. This information may be helpful for preventing fifth metatarsal stress fracture recurrence. More detailed load evaluations and a prospective study are needed in the future.

Synthesis of a novel D-glucose-conjugated 15-crown-5 ether with a spiro ketal structure.

This paper describes a synthetic approach to a novel D-glucose-conjugated 15-crown-5 ether having a spiroketal structure starting from a 1-C-vinylated glucose derivative. The approach consists of the glycosylation of the vinylated glucose derivative to give an ethyleneoxy spacer derivative using bismuth(III) triflate, the conversion of the 1-C-vinyl group of the glucoside produced into a carboxylic acid group, and the intramolecular condensation between the carboxyl group and the terminal hydroxyl group in the ethyleneoxy spacer. A D-glucose-conjugated 15-crown-5 ether having a unique spiroketal structure was thus successfully synthesized.

Preparation of partially benzylated mono-, di-, and trisaccharides by selective cleavage of the beta-fructofuranosidic linkage in fully benzylated sucrose and sucrose-related oligosaccharides under acidic conditions.

Several partially benzylated mono-, di-, and trisaccharides having an anomeric hydroxyl group were successfully prepared by selective cleavage of the beta-fructofuranosidic linkage in fully benzylated sucrose and sucrose-related oligosaccharides derived from lactosucrose, raffinose, melezitose, stachyose, and nystose under acidic conditions using 1:10 75% aqueous sulfuric acid-dioxane at room temperature for 1h.