Previous studies have reported a 4%-50% incidence of acute renal failure (ARF) following the use of radiocontrast media in patients with preexisting chronic renal insufficiency. In these studies, ARF was defined as a rise of the serum creatinine of at least 1 mg/dl above baseline. Using the same criteria, we studied 214 patients undergoing various intravascular radiocontrast media procedures. Patients were infused with a specially prepared cocktail solution (NSMF) containing 1000 ml half-normal saline, 12.5 g of mannitol (M), I ampule NaHCO3, and 200 mg of furosemide (F) at 100 ml/h from one hour prior to two hours after the procedure. Urinary output was replaced with normal saline for at least 6 h after the procedure. Seven percent of the patients developed acute renal insufficiency. Only 3% of the patients had a rise in serum creatinine greater than 2 mg/dl. No patient required dialysis therapy after the procedure. There was one unrelated death caused by acute myocardial infarction postangioplasty. Risk factors for development of ARF despite cocktail administration included the presence of diabetes mellitus and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor therapy. We concluded that the properly administered NSMF solution protects against radiocontrast dye induced renal failure. In select patients with chronic renal insufficiency, consideration should be given to withholding ACE inhibitor therapy for 24-48 h prior to administration of intravenous radiocontrast dye. A large controlled trial will be required to establish whether the NSMF solution offers benefit beyond that of saline hydration alone.

A low-carbon steel A-36 and two conventional weathering steels A-588 and COR-420 exposed at four atmospheric test stations located in (i) Tocumen, an urban site near the Pacific Ocean, (ii) Sherman-Open, (iii) Sherman-Coastal, and (iv) Sherman-Breakwater on the Caribbean coast of Panama. Kinetics of the short-term atmospheric corrosion process and the relationship with exposure time and environmental characteristics of each site were investigated. The atmospheric exposure conditions, particularly the time of wetness, deposition of chloride, and the washing effect of contaminants on the metal surface by rain are of upmost importance in determining the corrosion behaviour and composition of rust. The corrosion products were mainly identified using room temperature and low temperature (80 K) Mössbauer spectroscopy, FTIR, and X-ray powder diffraction. In all samples, γ-FeOOH and α-FeOOH were the main constituents. Maghemite (γ-Fe 2 O 3 ), magnetite (Fe 3 O 4 ), and Akaganeite (β-FeOOH) were also identified.

The phases and compositions of the corrosion products of a mild steel (A-36) and two weathering steels (A-588 and COR 420) formed after 3 months exposure to the tropical marine atmosphere of Panama were examined using FTIR and Mössbauer spectroscopy. The results show that amorphous or crystallized iron oxyhydroxides goethite α-FeOOH and lepidocrocite γ-FeOOH are early corrosion products. Maghemite γ-Fe 2 O 3 and magnetite Fe 3 O 4 have also been identified and found to be prominent components for steels exposed to the most aggressive conditions. The formation of akaganeite β-FeOOH was observed when chlorides were occluded within the rust. FTIR showed the presence of hematite α-Fe 2 O 3 in one sample.

Môssbauer spectroscopy and X-ray powder diffraction (in selected samples) have been used to characterize corrosion products on carbon steels after atmospheric exposure to the tropical Panamanian locations of Panama and Colon, classified according to ISO 9223 as C3 and C5, respectively. Goethite (a-FeOOH) of intermediate particle size (20-100 nm), lepidocrocite (y-FeOOH), a spinel phase consisting of non-stoichiometric magnetite (Fe3,x04) and/or maghemite (y'Fe203) and nano-sized particles were identified in the corrosion products. The spinel phase is related to short term atmospheric exposure transforms in time to other corrosion products. The corrosion resistance increased with fraction of goethite following a saturation-type behavior.

In this work, the microstructure and texture evolution of an Al-20Sn (mass%) alloy processed by Equal Channel Angular Pressing is presented. The evolution of dislocation cells into subgrains and the mechanical response of the deformed alloy have been emphasized. Samples were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction (for microstrain and texture measurements) and Vickers microhardness. It was found, that Al grains, suffered the highest degree of deformation during the ECAP process, however, the evidence showed that the deformation was largely heterogeneous, in terms of crystalline domain and feasibly in misorientation angles. The initial copper texture changes throughout the ECAP process forming an incipient shear texture component (111) . The heterogeneity of the results obtained from the Vickers microhardness mapping could be associated to the microstructure resulted after the ECAP process.