Ultrasound is a therapeutic agent commonly used to treat sports-related tendinopathy. Tendon healing requires tendon cells migration to the repair site, followed by the proliferation and synthesis of extracellular matrix. This study was designed to determine the effect of ultrasound on migration of tendon cells intrinsic to rat Achilles tendon. Furthermore, the existence of a correlation between this effect and the expression of the contractile actin isoform, alpha-smooth muscle (SM) actin, which is associated with cell mobility, was also examined. Cell migration was evaluated by transwell filter migration assay. The mRNA expressions of alpha-SM actin were determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Dose-dependent ultrasound enhancement of tendon cells migration through the transwell filter was demonstrated. Using immunofluorescence stain for alpha-SM actin, the percentages of alpha-SM actin-positive cells of total cells, nonmigrated cells, and migrated cells on the filter were calculated. Ultrasound-treated cells which had migrated to the bottom side of the filter were more likely to express alpha-SM actin than migrated control cells and nonmigrated cells. However, there was no change of mRNA and protein expression of alpha-SM actin as well as expression of FAK and p-FAK. In conclusion, ultrasound stimulates tendon cell migration in association with increased expression of alpha-SM actin of tendon cells.

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Multiple pregnancies are thought to be associated with a high incidence of perinatal complications such as preterm labor, preeclampsia and low birth weight. But the true mechanisms of these obstetric complications are still uncertain. The components of amniotic fluid reflect the pathophysiology features of the fetus. Amniotic fluid soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1(sFLT1), soluble endoglin (sENG), and adiponectin reflect the oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory status and are associated with preeclampsia and fetal growth restriction. We prospectively collected amniotic fluids during amniocentesis from singleton and twin pregnancies. Samples were analyzed for levels of sFLT1, sENG, and adiponectin by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The levels of sENG and sFLT1 were significantly increased in twin pregnancies. Adiponectin was not significantly different between the two groups. These findings would suggest that twin fetuses suffer from more oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory status from the early trimesters.