for the RANTTAS Investigators V Background and Purpose-Medical and neurological complications after acute ischemic stroke may adversely impact outcome and in some cases may be preventable. Limited data exist regarding the frequency of such complications occurring in the first days after the ictus and the relationship of these complications to outcome. Our objective was to identify the types, severity, and frequency of medical and neurological complications following acute ischemic stroke and to determine their role in mortality and functional outcome. Methods-Rates of serious (life-threatening) and nonserious medical and neurological complications and mortality were derived from the placebo limb of the Randomized Trial of Tirilazad Mesylate in Acute Stroke (RANTTAS) database (nϭ279).Complications were correlated with clinical outcome using logistic regression techniques. Results-Of all patients, 95% had at least one complication. The most common serious medical complication was pneumonia (5%), and the most common serious neurological complication was new cerebral infarction or extension of the admission infarction (5%). The 3-month mortality was 14%; 51% of these deaths were attributed primarily to medical complications. Outcome was significantly worse in patients with serious medical complications, after adjustment for baseline imbalances, as measured by the Barthel Index (odds ratio [OR], 6.1; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.5 to 15.1) and by the Glasgow Outcome Scale (OR, 11.6; 95% CI, 4.3 to 30.9). After death was discounted, serious medical complications were associated with severe disability at 3 months as determined by the Glasgow Outcome Scale (OR, 4.4; 95% CI, 1.3 to 14.8). Conclusions-Medical

Long, straight gallium nitride nanowires, such as those shown in the Figure, are reported to have been grown directly on substrates, without templates, from the reaction of ammonium with metal gallium. Nanoparticle catalysts and directed flow of the carrier gas are shown to be the main factors leading to the quasi‐1D growth. GaN nanowires can be used to improve the performance of certain optoelectronic devices.

Background: Mirror movements (MM) are not widely appreciated in parkinsonism and no report has evaluated this clinical sign in detail. Objectives: To define the parkinsonian clinical features associated with MM in patients with early, asymmetric parkinsonism. Methods: Twenty seven patients with early Parkinson's disease were evaluated using a standardised videotaping protocol. MM were scored from blinded video assessment using a clinical scale that rates the amplitude, distribution, and proportion of mirroring in the less affected limb. Parkinsonian features were combined into axial and lateralised scores using related items of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale. Results: MM were present in 24 of 27 patients. There was a significant linear correlation between the degree of asymmetry of motor deficits and MM on the less affected side. The effect of asymmetry was greater when the proportional rather than the absolute motor difference between sides was largest. Asymmetry in leg rigidity was the most important examination feature in the prediction of contralateral foot mirroring. Conclusions: MM are a clinical feature of the unaffected or less affected side in mild asymmetric parkinsonism. Their presence may be a useful clinical finding in early parkinsonism.

Combined analysis of Cripto-1 and E-cadherin has significant value in evaluating the metastatic potential of gastric cancer and predicting patient prognosis.