Varicella Outbreak in an Indian Couple Living in Germany Caused by VZV Clade VI Acquired during a Trip to The Netherlands

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV), the cause of varicella and zoster, is divided into five major clades and four provisional clades, the latter of which have been rarely reported worldwide to date. We present a varicella outbreak by the provisional clade VI within an Indian couple in Germany returning from a trip to Amsterdam. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of varicella by the VZV clade VI described in Germany, but the disease was acquired in The Netherlands

Clinical assessment of a foam dressing containing growth factor-enhancing hydrated polyurethanes

Objective: This study assesses a novel dressing concept in venous leg ulcer (VLU) patients. It is based on boosting endogenous growth factor activities synthesised by functional granulation tissue. Methods: Patients received treatment for eight weeks with a hydrated polyurethane-containing foam dressing plus concomitant compression therapy. Wound area reduction (WAR), percentage of wounds achieving a relative WAR of >= 40% and >= 60%, wound pain ratings for the last 24 hours and at dressing changes, EQ-5D Quality of Life questionnaire data, dressing handling and safety parameters were recorded. Results: There were 128 patients who received treatment and data for 123 wound treatment courses were documented. Wound area size decreased from 13.3 +/- 9.8cm(2) to 10.5 +/- 12.2cm(2) at week eight and median relative WAR was 48.8%. At week eight, a relative WAR >= 40% was reached by 54.5% of the wounds, 41.5% reached a relative WAR of >= 60% and complete healing was observed in 13.5% of wounds. Median wound pain ratings (last 24 hours before dressing change) declined significantly from 30 to 15.5 (100 visual analogue scale [VAS), p=0.0001) and pain at dressing changes from 30 to 12.5 (1)5.0.0001). The EQ-5D VAS rating increased from 58.4 +/- 19.2mm to 63.1 +/- 19.1mm (p=0.0059). Conclusion: This clinical assessment shows that the concept of boosting endogenous growth factors through hydrated polyurethanes has the potential to accelerate WAR in VLU patients while decreasing pain levels and improving quality of life parameters

Additive manufacturing of novel complex tungsten components via electron beam melting: Basic properties and evaluation of the high heat flux behavior

The basic principle of electron beam melting (EBM) technology is the additive generation of structures by the selective melting of metal powder layer by layer with an electron beam under vacuum conditions. The cooling rate of the EBM process can be reduced drastically by increasing the temperature of the powder bed to avoid the formation of solidification cracks by brittle materials such as tungsten (W). This refractory metal is a promising candidate as plasma facing material for future fusion reactors. The selection of tungsten is owing to its physical properties such as the melting point of 3420 °C, the high strength and high thermal conductivity, the low thermal expansion and low erosion rate. Disadvantages are the low ductility, and fracture toughness at room temperature. Furthermore, the manufacturing by mechanical machining, such as milling and turning, is extremely cost and time consuming. An interesting alternative process route to conventional manufacturing technologies is EBM. It allows the near-net shape fabrication of prototype structures with geometrical freedom and has proven its capability for mass production by the manufacturing of hip prostheses made of titanium.This manuscript describes the fabrication of tungsten parts via electron beam melting, with application to the manufacturing of divertor armour. The investigation comprises the microstructure examination, crystallographic texture, as well as mechanical characterization via tensile and Charpy impact testing. This is followed by the presentation of process routes to fabricate mock-ups with different designs and copper cooling structures.Furthermore, the different mock-ups were exposed to high heat flux (HHF) applying transient thermal loads to assess thermal shock and thermal fatigue performance of EBM tungsten.Post mortem analyses were performed quantifying the occurring damage with respect to reference tungsten grades by microscopical means.The achieved results demonstrate the high potential to process tungsten via electron beam melting