Learning Visual Representations via Language-Guided Sampling

Although an object may appear in numerous contexts, we often describe it in a limited number of ways. Language allows us to abstract away visual variation to represent and communicate concepts. Building on this intuition, we propose an alternative approach to visual representation learning: using language similarity to sample semantically similar image pairs for contrastive learning. Our approach diverges from image-based contrastive learning by sampling view pairs using language similarity instead of hand-crafted augmentations or learned clusters. Our approach also differs from image-text contrastive learning by relying on pre-trained language models to guide the learning rather than directly minimizing a cross-modal loss. Through a series of experiments, we show that language-guided learning yields better features than image-based and image-text representation learning approaches.Comment: Accepted to CVPR 2023. v2 is camera-ready version with additional ImageNet evaluations. Project page: https://github.com/mbanani/lgss

Ectopic molar pregnancy: a case report

The incidence of hydatidiform moles is 1 per 1,000 pregnancies. Ectopic pregnancy occurs in 20 per 1,000 pregnancies. Thus, the incidence of the ectopic molar gestation is very rare. We report a case of tubal molar pregnancy diagnosed at the systematic histology exam of an ectopic pregnancy. We report the case of 32 years old nulliparus women who presented a vaginal bleeding, lower abdominal pain and 6 weeks amenorrhea corresponding to the last menstrual period. At the clinical examination, the arterial pressure was 100/60 mmHG. The gynecological examination was difficult because of lower abdominal pain. Serum gonadotropin activity was 3454 ui/l. Pelvic ultrasound revealed an irregular echogenic mass in the left adnexa. Diagnostic laparoscopy revealed a left-sided unruptured ampullary ectopic pregnancy. A left laparoscopic salpingectomy was performed. The systematic histologic test identified an ectopic partial molar pregnancy, which was confirmed by DNA ploidy image analysis. The patient was followed with weekly quantitative B-hCG titers until three successive B-hCG levels were negative. It is pertinent that clinicians take routine histological examination of tubal specimens in ectopic pregnancy very seriously in order to diagnose cases of ectopic molar gestations early and mount appropriate post treatment surveillance

Le mélanome primitif de la muqueuse génitale féminine: à propos de trois observations et revue de littérature

Le mélanome malin primitif de l'appareil génital féminin est une tumeur extrêmement rare. Il est fréquemment observé au niveau de la vulve mais il est rare au niveau du col utérin et du vagin. Il est le plus souvent   diagnostiqué à un stade tardif à l'occasion de métrorragies ou de massetumorale. Son histogénèse a été longtemps débattue. Le diagnostic est anatomo-pathologique avec recours nécessaire à l'étude   immunohistochimique. Sa prise en charge n'est pas codifiée avec plusieurs thérapeutiques proposées notamment dans le mélanome métastatique.Son pronostic est désastreux, associé à un taux élevé de récidives et à une courte survie. Les auteurs présentent trois observations, de  mélanomes primitifs vaginal, vulvaire et cervical, chez trois patientes âgées  respectivement de 70, 65 et 40 ans. Et à travers ces observations, ils mettent en relief les principaux aspects cliniques, histologiques, thérapeutiques de cette entité avec une revue de la littérature

Structure-guided engineering of immunotherapies targeting TRBC1 and TRBC2 in T cell malignancies

Peripheral T cell lymphomas are typically aggressive with a poor prognosis. Unlike other hematologic malignancies, the lack of target antigens to discriminate healthy from malignant cells limits the efficacy of immunotherapeutic approaches. The T cell receptor expresses one of two highly homologous chains [T cell receptor β-chain constant (TRBC) domains 1 and 2] in a mutually exclusive manner, making it a promising target. Here we demonstrate specificity redirection by rational design using structure-guided computational biology to generate a TRBC2-specific antibody (KFN), complementing the antibody previously described by our laboratory with unique TRBC1 specificity (Jovi-1) in targeting broader spectrum of T cell malignancies clonally expressing either of the two chains. This permits generation of paired reagents (chimeric antigen receptor-T cells) specific for TRBC1 and TRBC2, with preclinical evidence to support their efficacy in T cell malignancies

A Computational Exploration of Problem-Solving Strategies and Gaze Behaviorson the Block Design Task

The block design task, a standardized test of nonverbal reason-ing, is often used to characterize atypical patterns of cognitionin individuals with developmental or neurological conditions.Many studies suggest that, in addition to looking at quantita-tive differences in block design speed or accuracy, observingqualitative differences in individuals’ problem-solving strate-gies can provide valuable information about a person’s cogni-tion. However, it can be difficult to tie theories at the levelof problem-solving strategy to predictions at the level of ex-ternally observable behaviors such as gaze shifts and patternsof errors. We present a computational architecture that is usedto compare different models of problem-solving on the blockdesign task and to generate detailed behavioral predictions foreach different strategy. We describe the results of three differ-ent modeling experiments and discuss how these results pro-vide greater insight into the analysis of gaze behavior and errorpatterns on the block design task

Molecular Antimicrobial Resistance of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in a Moroccan Area

Objectives. To identify the prevalence and the types of Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) resistance plasmids-mediated penicillin (PPNG) and tetracycline (TRNG), the ciprofloxacin resistance (CRNG), and related risk factors of each types of resistance. Methods. The beta-lactamase-producing plasmid types (Africa, Asia, and Toronto), tetM tetracycline resistance plasmid types (America and Dutch), and the determination of the Ser-91 mutation of GyrA were detected by specifics PCRs on 149 diagnosed NG positives samples followed by Hinf1 digestion for tetM and gyrA mutation. Results. 135 (90.1%) samples showed a profile of molecular resistance to at least one antibiotic with predominance of ciprofloxacin resistance. In fact, 36 (24.2%) and 69 (46.3%) cases harbored PPNG and TRNG, respectively, and 116 (77.9%) cases showed the mutation Ser-91 of GyrA (CRNG). From a total of 36 PPNG isolates, the Toronto, Asian, and Toronto/Asian types were detected in 13 (36.1%), 10 (27.8%), and 13 (36.1%) cases, respectively, whereas the African type was not detected. In addition, the American type of TRNG was detected in 92.8% (64/69) of cases, while the Dutch type was detected in 7.2% (5/69) of cases. The association of demographics and clinical variables with NG resistance to ciprofloxacin, penicillin, and tetracycline was studied and the risk factors have been determined. Conclusion. Resistance to penicillin, tetracycline, and ciprofloxacin among NG samples positives remained at high levels in Morocco as determined by molecular profile. So, the use of molecular tools for NG antimicrobial resistance detection can help in the management and spread limitation of this infection

Distribution of Carcinogenic Human Papillomavirus Genotypes and Association to Cervical Lesions among Women in Fez (Morocco).

OBJECTIVES:To determine the distribution of cervical high-risk human papillomavirus genotypes and their association to cellular abnormalities in women from Fez and its neighborhood. METHODS:Women attending the Hassan II University Hospital for cervical pap smears were recruited after an informed consent. Interviews and two cervical samples were performed for each woman. Cervical samples were used for cytological analysis and HPV DNA detection. HPV was typed using a method based on multiplex PCR with fluorescently labeled specific primers followed by capillary electrophoresis. The study was approved by the ethics committee of the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Fez. RESULTS:The HPV prevalence in the studied population was 43.1% and the most prevalent types were HPV 53 (23 cases); HPV 16 (20 cases); HPV 35 (18 cases); HPV 51 (10 cases) and HPV 56 (7 cases). From the 619 confirmed pap smears, 20% were abnormal. The cytological abnormalities were significantly associated to HPV infection, women age, number of pregnancies and parity (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION:More attention should be given to HPV in Morocco because it represents an important public health concern. The distribution of carcinogenic HPV types in the studied population is different from the data in other regions but epidemiological studies in other Moroccan regions are required

Different pathways for sodium entry in cardiac cells during ischemia and early reperfusion.

International audienceA number of data are consistent with the hypothesis that increases in intracellular Na+ concentration (Na+i) during ischemia and early reperfusion lead to calcium overload and exacerbation of myocardial injury. However, the mechanisms underlying the increased Na+i remain unclear. 23Na nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to monitor Na+i in isolated rat hearts perfused with a high concentration of fatty acid as can occur under some pathological conditions. Whole-cell patch-clamp experiments were also performed on isolated cardiomyocytes in order to investigate the role of voltage-gated sodium channels. Na+i increased to substantially above control levels during no-flow ischemia. The results show that a pharmacological reduction of Na+i increase by cariporide (1 micromol/L, a Na+/H+ exchange blocker) is not the only protection against ischemia-reperfusion damage, but that such protection may also be brought about by metabolic action aimed at reducing fatty acid utilization by myocardial cells. This action was obtained in the presence of etomoxir (0.1 micromol/L), an inhibitor of carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 (the key enzyme involved in fatty acid uptake by the mitochondria) which also decreases long-chain acyl carnitine accumulation. The possibility of Na+ channels participating in Na+i increase as a consequence of alterations in cardiac metabolism was studied in isolated cells. Sustained I(Na) was stimulated by the presence of lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC, 10 micromol/L) whose accumulation during ischemia is, at least partly, dependent on increased long-chain acyl carnitine. Current activation was particularly significant in the range of potentials between -60 and -20 mV. This may have particular relevance in ischemia. The quantity of charge carried by sustained I(Na) was reduced by 24% in the presence of 1 micromol/L cariporide. Therefore, limitation of long-chain fatty acid metabolism, and consequent limitation of ischemia-induced long-chain acyl carnitine accumulation, may contribute to reducing intracellular Na+ increase during ischemia-reperfusion