Ocrelizumab versus Interferon Beta-1a in Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis

Supported by F. Hoffmann–La Roche

Crohn’s disease with isolated gastric involvement as an example of a rare disease phenotype: a clinical case

Crohn's disease (CD), along with ulcerative colitis, is one of the predominant nosological forms of inflammatory bowel diseases. In CD, any part of the gastrointestinal tract can be affected; however, the process is commonly associated with terminal ileum or colon involvement. CD cases with isolated or mixed involvement of upper gastrointestinal tract (esophagus, stomach, and duodenum) are rare and least studied types of the disease. In isolated stomach involvement, the complaints are non-specific and include epigastric pain, gastric dyspepsia, early satiety, decreased appetite, and nausea. Isolated CD of upper gastrointestinal tract can be diagnosed after comprehensive work-up and always requires a high diagnostic level, including clinical, endoscopic and morphological one. We present a clinical case of CD with isolated stomach involvement in a 62-year-old woman. The diagnosis was confirmed by the histopathological findings of an epithelioid cell granuloma in the gastric antrum. Treatment with systemic corticosteroids reduced the disease clinical activity and improved the histological characteristics of the gastric biopsy sampled obtained by endoscopy. In this clinical case, there were specific macroscopic gastric lesions found at endoscopy in CD patients with upper gastrointestinal tract involvement, which is characterized by thickened longitudinal folding and linear grooves. This type of lesion has been described in the literature as “bamboo joint-like appearance”.Conclusion: Comprehensive assessment of clinical manifestations, endoscopic and histopathological specific features is crucial for the timely diagnosis and treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases

New Cr-Ni-Base Alloy for High-Temperature Applications Designed on the Basis of First Principles Calculations

We use ab initio calculations to analyze the influence of 4d and 5d transition metal alloying elements on cohesive properties of the bulk and a representative grain boundary in Cr within the framework of the Rice–Thomson–Wang approach. The results obtained for Cr are combined with the analogous results for Ni to select Ta and Nb as promising alloying additions to dual-phase (α/γ) Cr-Ni-base high-temperature alloys. Ta and Nb are added to the alloying system of an existing alloy I (Cr-Ni-W-V-Ti) in an attempt to design a chemical composition of a new alloy II (Cr-Ni-W-V-Ti) + (Ta-Nb). Investigation of the microstructure of the Ta-bearing Cr-Ni-alloy reveals a Ta enrichment of large γ-areas near GBs in α-matrix that we consider as potency to increase the cohesive strength of GBs and the cohesive energy of the bulk in γ-phase. Mechanical testing of alloys I and II demonstrates that the alloy II has improved tensile strength and creep resistance at high temperatures