Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is characterized by memory disturbances following trauma. Acute predator threat has emerged as an ethological model of PTSD, yet the effects of predator odor on signaling cascades associated with long-term memory remain poorly understood. In this study, we exposed male and female Wistar rats to the synthetic predator odor 2,5-dihydro-2,4,5-trimethylthiazoline (TMT) to assess behavioral and physiological responses as well as rapid modulation of signal transduction cascades associated with learning and memory in the male and female hippocampus. During exposure to TMT in the homecage, both male and female animals displayed robust immobility, avoidance, and altered activity as a function of time. Physiologically, TMT exposure increased circulating corticosterone and blood glucose in both male and female rodents, suggesting that TMT evokes sex-independent behavioral and physiological responses. With respect to signal transduction, TMT exposure rapidly reduced phosphorylation of cyclic-adenosine monophosphate response element binding protein (CREB) in the male, but not the female hippocampus. Furthermore, TMT exposure reduced phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 and increased nuclear expression of the synapto-nuclear messenger protein Jacob in the male hippocampus, consistent with activation of the CREB shut-off pathway. In a follow-up behavioral experiment, post-training exposure to TMT did not affect spatial water maze performance of male rats. However, male rats re-introduced to the context in which TMT had previously been presented displayed avoidance and hyperactivity, but not freezing behavior or elevated corticosterone responses, suggesting that TMT exposure supports a form of contextual conditioning which is not characterized by immobility. Taken together, our findings suggest that TMT evokes similar behavioral and physiological responses in male and female Wistar rats, but affects distinct signaling cascades in the male and female hippocampus which may contribute to behavioral disruptions associated with predator exposure.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is characterized by the development of paradoxical memory disturbances including intrusive memories and amnesia for specific details of the traumatic experience. Despite evidence that women are at higher risk to develop PTSD, most animal research has focused on the processes by which male rodents develop adaptive fear memory. As such, the mechanisms contributing to sex differences in the development of PTSD-like memory disturbances are poorly understood. In this investigation, we exposed adult male and female Wistar rats to the synthetic alarm odor 2,4,5-trimethylthiazole (TMT) to assess development of generalized fear behavior and rapid modulation of glutamate uptake and signaling cascades associated with hippocampus-dependent long-term memory. We report that female Wistar rats exposed to alarm odor exhibit context discrimination impairments relative to TMT-exposed male rats, suggesting the intriguing possibility that females are at greater risk in developing generalized fear memories. Mechanistically, alarm odor exposure rapidly modulated signaling cascades consistent with activation of the CREB shut-off cascade in the male, but not the female hippocampus. Moreover, TMT exposure dampened glutamate uptake and affected expression of the glutamate transporter, GLT-1 in the hippocampus. Taken together, these results provide evidence for rapid sex-dependent modulation of CREB signaling in the hippocampus by alarm odor exposure which may contribute to the development of generalized fear.

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Although ectopic pregnancy and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) are separately commonly seen in practice, development of PID after surgical removal is rare. Here, we present the case of a 41-year-old female who was admitted for pelvic inflammatory disease diagnosed after laparoscopic salpingectomy for a ruptured ectopic pregnancy. Treatment required drainage of TOAs with interventional radiology and antibiotic treatment. This case report demonstrates how treatment of PID following ectopic pregnancy is complex and may require surgical- or radiology-guided drainage of infection in addition to common antibiotic treatment. Follow-up and duration of treatment are highlighted.

represented pregnancies with PAS who delivered by cesarean-hysterectomy and had a first trimester ultrasound with LGSI. Controls represented pregnancies with persistent placenta previas without PAS, who delivered by cesarean-section without post-partum hemorrhage and had a first trimester ultrasound with LGSI. Sonographic images were reviewed by an investigator blinded to pregnancy outcome and sonography reports. Images were reviewed for presence of abnormal utero-placental interface, increased uterovesical hypervascularity, and placental lacunae, with or without swirling on gray scale or color Doppler. Definitions of ultrasound markers followed national task force on PAS. RESULTS: 21 cases and 46 controls met the inclusion criteria. Lacunae were present in 18/21 (85.7%) cases and in 7/46 (15.2%) controls (OR 33.4; 95% CI 7.7-144.4, p<.001). Presence of 3 or more lacunae were 100% predictive of PAS with an average of 5.0 lacunae in cases compared to 1.3 in controls (p¼.019). The average size of the lacunae was 9.88AE3.7mm in cases and 4.41AE0.56 mm in controls (p<.001). Lacunae swirling on gray scale or color Doppler were 100% predictive of PAS (p<.001). Presence of an abnormal uteroplacental interface was also 100% predictive of PAS (p<.001). Uterovesical hypervascularity was present in 14/14 cases and only 1/12 controls (p<.001). CONCLUSION: To our knowledge this is the first study evaluating the predictive value of PAS markers in early gestation in pregnancies with LGSI. In pregnancies with LGSI, presence of 3 or more lacunae or abnormal utero-placental interface in the first trimester is highly predictive of PAS.