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XLS file - 193K, Patient and sample data

PDF file - 425K, Clusters of genes with coordinated expression across samples

Purpose: Chromosomal instability (CIN) is believed to have an important role in the pathogenesis of urothelial cancer (UC). The aim of this study was to evaluate whether disturbances of mitotic segregation contribute to CIN in UC, if these processes have any effect on the course of disease, and how deregulation of these mechanisms affects tumor cell growth.Experimental Design: We developed molecular cytogenetic methods to classify mitotic segregation abnormalities in a panel of UC cell lines. Mitotic instabilities were then scored in biopsies from 52 UC patients and compared with the outcome of tumor disease. Finally, UC cells were exposed in vitro to a telomerase inhibitor to assess how this affects mitotic stability and cell proliferation.Results: Three distinct chromosome segregation abnormalities were identified: (a) telomere dysfunction, which triggers structural rearrangements and loss of chromosomes through anaphase bridging; (b) sister chromatid nondisjunction, which generates discrete chromosomal copy number variations; and (c) supernumerary centrosomes, which cause dramatic shifts in chromosome copy number through multipolar cell division. Chromosome segregation errors were already present in preinvasive tumors and a high rate mitotic instability was an independent predictor of poor survival. However, induction of even higher levels of the same segregation abnormalities in UC cells by telomerase inhibition in vitro led to reduced tumor cell proliferation and clonogenic survival.Conclusion: Several distinct chromosome segregation errors contribute to CIN in UC, and the rate of such mitotic errors has a significant effect on the clinical course. Efficient tumor cell proliferation may depend on the tight endogenous control of these processes.

Supplementary Figure S1 from Distinct Mitotic Segregation Errors Mediate Chromosomal Instability in Aggressive Urothelial Cancers

PDF file - 392K, Expression of cell adhesion genes

Supplementary Tables S1-S2 from Distinct Mitotic Segregation Errors Mediate Chromosomal Instability in Aggressive Urothelial Cancers

Purpose: Even though urothelial cancer is the fourth most common tumor type among males, progress in treatment has been scarce. A problem in day-to-day clinical practice is that precise assessment of individual tumors is still fairly uncertain; consequently efforts have been undertaken to complement tumor evaluation with molecular biomarkers. An extension of this approach would be to base tumor classification primarily on molecular features. Here, we present a molecular taxonomy for urothelial carcinoma based on integrated genomics.Experimental Design: We use gene expression profiles from 308 tumor cases to define five major urothelial carcinoma subtypes: urobasal A, genomically unstable, urobasal B, squamous cell carcinoma like, and an infiltrated class of tumors. Tumor subtypes were validated in three independent publically available data sets. The expression of 11 key genes was validated at the protein level by immunohistochemistry.Results: The subtypes show distinct clinical outcomes and differ with respect to expression of cell-cycle genes, receptor tyrosine kinases particularly FGFR3, ERBB2, and EGFR, cytokeratins, and cell adhesion genes, as well as with respect to FGFR3, PIK3CA, and TP53 mutation frequency. The molecular subtypes cut across pathologic classification, and class-defining gene signatures show coordinated expression irrespective of pathologic stage and grade, suggesting the molecular phenotypes as intrinsic properties of the tumors. Available data indicate that susceptibility to specific drugs is more likely to be associated with the molecular stratification than with pathologic classification.Conclusions: We anticipate that the molecular taxonomy will be useful in future clinical investigations. Clin Cancer Res; 18(12); 3377–86. ©2012 AACR.

XLS file - 22K, Summary of patient and sample data

PDF file - 1.8MB, Validation of tumor clusters in external data sets

Supplementary Table 3 from Combined Gene Expression and Genomic Profiling Define Two Intrinsic Molecular Subtypes of Urothelial Carcinoma and Gene Signatures for Molecular Grading and Outcome

Supplementary Table 8 from Combined Gene Expression and Genomic Profiling Define Two Intrinsic Molecular Subtypes of Urothelial Carcinoma and Gene Signatures for Molecular Grading and Outcome

Supplementary Figure Legends 1-6 from Combined Gene Expression and Genomic Profiling Define Two Intrinsic Molecular Subtypes of Urothelial Carcinoma and Gene Signatures for Molecular Grading and Outcome

Supplementary Table 6 from Combined Gene Expression and Genomic Profiling Define Two Intrinsic Molecular Subtypes of Urothelial Carcinoma and Gene Signatures for Molecular Grading and Outcome

Supplementary Table 2 from Combined Gene Expression and Genomic Profiling Define Two Intrinsic Molecular Subtypes of Urothelial Carcinoma and Gene Signatures for Molecular Grading and Outcome

Supplementary Table 7 from Combined Gene Expression and Genomic Profiling Define Two Intrinsic Molecular Subtypes of Urothelial Carcinoma and Gene Signatures for Molecular Grading and Outcome

Supplementary Table 5 from Combined Gene Expression and Genomic Profiling Define Two Intrinsic Molecular Subtypes of Urothelial Carcinoma and Gene Signatures for Molecular Grading and Outcome

Supplementary Table 1 from Combined Gene Expression and Genomic Profiling Define Two Intrinsic Molecular Subtypes of Urothelial Carcinoma and Gene Signatures for Molecular Grading and Outcome

Supplementary Table 4 from Combined Gene Expression and Genomic Profiling Define Two Intrinsic Molecular Subtypes of Urothelial Carcinoma and Gene Signatures for Molecular Grading and Outcome

Supplementary Figures 1-6 from Combined Gene Expression and Genomic Profiling Define Two Intrinsic Molecular Subtypes of Urothelial Carcinoma and Gene Signatures for Molecular Grading and Outcome

The aim of the article is to unveil how the application of the collaborative learning strategy in higher education (HE) setting combines self-assessment of group activities with peer-to-group and teacher evaluation. The results reveal that the groups’ self-evaluation is considerably more positively than evaluation by the teacher or peers. The antecedents of these results are likely embedded in 1) the cultural context with dominant individual values; 2) impact of business study as discipline, and: 3) challenges in implementing a collaborative learning strategy in the HE sector.

Background Parastomal hernia (PSH) after urinary diversion with ileal conduit is frequently a clinical problem. Objective To investigate whether a prophylactic lightweight mesh in the sublay position can reduce the cumulative incidence of PSH after open cystectomy with ileal conduit. Design, setting, and participants From 2012 to 2017, we randomised 242 patients 1:1 to conventional stoma construction (n = 124) or prophylactic mesh (n = 118) at three Swedish hospitals (ISRCTN 95093825). Outcome measurements and statistical analysis The primary endpoint was clinical PSH, and secondary endpoints were radiological PSH assessed in prone position with the stoma in the centre of a ring, parastomal bulging, and complications from the mesh. Results and limitations Within 24 mo, 20/89 (23%) patients in the control arm and 10/92 (11%) in the intervention arm had developed a clinical PSH (p = 0.06) after a median follow-up of 3 yr, corresponding to a hazard ratio of 0.45 (confidence interval 0.24–0.86, p = 0.02) in the intervention arm. The proportions of radiological PSHs within 24 mo were 22/89 (25%) and 17/92 (19%) in the two study arms. During follow-up, five patients in the control arm and two in the intervention arm were operated for PSH. The median operating time was 50 min longer in patients receiving a mesh. No differences were noted in proportions of Clavien-Dindo complications at 90 d postoperatively or in complications related to the mesh during follow-up. Conclusions Prophylactic implantation of a lightweight mesh in the sublay position decreases the risk of PSH when constructing an ileal conduit without increasing the risk of complications related to the mesh. The median surgical time is prolonged by mesh implantation. Patient summary In this randomised report, we looked at the risk of parastomal hernia after cystectomy and urinary diversion with ileal conduit with or without the use of a prophylactic mesh. We conclude that such a prophylactic measure decreased the occurrence of parastomal hernias, with only a slight increase in operating time and no added risk of complications related to the mesh.

In this study, we examine how students grade themselves in comparison with their peers and teachers. Results were formed from a sample of 169 first-year students signed up to the course “Introduction to Management”, run by the School of Business at the University of Iceland and based on a cooperative learning strategy. Irrespective of whether students were evaluating their individual or group work, the mean outcomes suggest that their own grading is much higher than that of their peers, and higher again than their teachers. These results suggest that the self-interest of the Homo economicus was clouding objectivity, and it is also likely that the inexperience of the new undergraduates in such grading approaches played a role. Future research should not abandon the idea of self-assessment as a means of developing critical capacities among students, but rather seek to explore whether these results are replicated in other educational settings, such as different disciplines and sub-disciplines, and whether more experienced students, such as third-year undergraduates, demonstrate similar behavioral responses.

Objective: In non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), local recurrence after transurethral resection of the bladder (TURB) is common. Outcomes vary between urological centres, partly due to the sub-optimal surgical technique and insufficient application of measures recommended in the guidelines. This study evaluated early recurrence rates after primary TURB for NMIBC before and after introducing a standardized treatment protocol. Methods: Medical records of all patients undergoing primary TURB for NMIBC in 2010 at Skane University Hospital, Malmo, Sweden, were reviewed. A new treatment protocol for NMIBC was defined and introduced in 2013, and results documented during the first year thereafter were compared with those recorded in 2010 prior to the intervention. The primary endpoint was early recurrence at first control cystoscopy. Comparisons were made by Chi-square analysis and Fisher’s exact test. Recurrence-free survival (RFS) in the two cohorts was also investigated. Results: TURB was performed on 116 and 159 patients before and after the intervention, respectively. The early recurrence rate decreased from 22% to 9.6% (p = 0.005) at the first control cystoscopy after treatment. Residual/Recurrent tumour at the first control cystoscopy after the primary TURB (i.e. at second-look resection or first control cystoscopy) decreased from 31% to 20% (p = 0.038). The proportion of specimens containing muscle in T1 tumours increased from 55% to 94% (p < 0.001). RFS was improved in the intervention group (HR = 0.65, CI = 0.43–1.0; p = 0.05). Conclusions: Introduction of a standardized protocol and reducing the number of surgeons for primary treatment of NMIBC decreased the early recurrence rate from 22% to 9.6% and lowered the recurrence incidence by 35%.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to give a collective overview on all available data sources on bladder cancer patients in the Nordic countries including the amount of detail and coverage.METHODS: National representatives from five Nordic countries were asked to fill out a questionnaire on available information regarding bladder cancer patients from databases in their respective countries. Additional information was retrieved from descriptions of the relevant registries.RESULTS: Non-muscle invasive bladder cancer: from all countries, information on stage and grade at transurethral resection of the bladder (TURB) could be retrieved. Details on procedures (TURB, instillation therapy, photodynamic diagnosis, and perioperative instillation) were varying within different databases. Muscle invasive bladder cancer: in all Nordic countries, detailed information on cystectomy patients could be retrieved but with variable registration of complications. Completeness of available information on oncological treatment (radiation, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy) were varying. Oncological outcome: Information on overall survival was available in all countries whereas recurrence-free survival and cancer-specific survival were available for some but not all patients depending on treatment modality.CONCLUSIONS: Despite limitations, we found that it was possible to retrieve detailed information on diagnostics, treatment, and outcome for most aspects of bladder cancer in the Nordic countries on a population based, non-selected patient cohort.

Context: Radical cystectomy and pelvic lymph node dissection (RC and PLND) are an essential part of the treatment paradigm in high risk bladder cancer. However, these patients have high rates of morbidity and mortality related both to the treatment and to the disease.Objective: To provide overview of current literature about clinical markers that can be used to predict and improve BC-patient outcomes at the time of RC and PLND and to study if they are properly validated.Evidence acquisition: A systematic literature search was conducted according to PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) criteria between January 1990 and October 2018 to identify English written original and review articles relevant to this topic. Prospective and retrospective studies were included.Evidence synthesis: There are several risk factors identified from non-randomised trials that can be improved before surgery to reduce perioperative mortality and morbidity. These include poor nutritional status, anaemia, renal function and smoking. Preoperative nomograms have also been developed to help decision-making and to inform patients about the risks of surgery. They can be used to estimate risk of postoperative mortality after RC and PLND with accuracy varying from 70 to 86%. These nomograms are largely based on retrospective data. Likewise, nomograms developed to calculate estimates about patient's overall and cancer specific survival have the same limitations.Conclusion: Clinical markers to predict morbidity, mortality and survival in patients with bladder cancer treated with RC and PLND may help to improve patient outcomes and treatment decision-making, but available data come from small retrospective trials and have not been properly validated. Prospective, multi-centre studies are needed to implement and disseminate predictive clinical markers and nomograms such that they can be utilised in treatment decision-making in daily practice.

The purpose of the article is to investigate whether female presence in microfinance institutions’ management team, i.e. board members, managers and loan officers, will improve their financial performance. We combine financial data on MFIs that is available from the MIX Market database with original data on the gender composition of MFIs’ management team, who include board members, managers and loan officers. This original dataset of 223 MFIs is analyzed using Logit-Tobit regression models with return on assets (ROA) as the dependent variable and proportion of female board members, female loan officers and female managers as the main independent variables. We find that a higher proportion of female managers and female loan officers improve financial performance in microfinance, while a higher proportion of female board members does not. Our results indicate that a major contributor to the financial sustainability of microfinance institutions is having a higher rate of women in vital decision-making roles, especially lower level management positions.

Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) populations from different river origins mix in the North Atlantic during the marine life stage. To facilitate marine stock identification, we developed a genetic baseline covering the European component of the species’ range excluding the Baltic Sea, from the Russian River Megra in the north-east, the Icelandic Ellidaar in the west, and the Spanish Ulla in the south, spanning 3737 km North to South and 2717 km East to West. The baseline encompasses data for 14 microsatellites for 26 822 individual fish from 13 countries, 282 rivers, and 467 sampling sites. A hierarchy of regional genetic assignment units was defined using a combination of distance-based and Bayesian clustering. At the top level, three assignment units were identified comprising northern, southern, and Icelandic regions. A second assignment level was also defined, comprising eighteen and twenty-nine regional units for accurate individual assignment and mixed stock estimates respectively. The baseline provides the most comprehensive geographical coverage for an Atlantic salmon genetic data-set, and a unique resource for the conservation and management of the species in Europe. It is freely available to researchers to facilitate identification of the natal origin of European salmon.

In this paper the microfinance industry will be described, both as it is today and with historical perspectives. Brief history of past failure of subsidized loans is mentioned. Different but important contributions from Stiglitz and Yunnus are explained and then the microfinance industry´s growth and current state will be described. Finally, different microfinance institutions types are explained. The microfinance industry is peculiar and deserves to be researched and focused upon for several reasons. The most important is that it aims towards poverty reduction by reaching out to the poor and provide them with capital. Noteworthy, that is to be done in a sustainable way, which allows the industry to thrive and expand. Indeed it has expanded greatly over the last few years. While the microfinance industry expands the importance of understanding the industry becomes ever more important. Researches on corporate governance for microfinance institutions have been carried out but more researches are needed, in particular for the social goal called outreach. Because the microfinance institutions have both social goals and financial goals, the microfinance industry is different from most other industries where profit maximization is the main and often the only goal. The corporate governance findings for microfinance industry may therefore be different and may not be easily transferred to other industries.

Objective: Patients with limited metastatic and locally advanced bladder cancer have a poor prognosis, and no definite treatment recommendations exist. However, long-term survival is possible for selected patients if surgery is combined with multiple courses of chemotherapy (i.e. induction chemotherapy). Patients with tumours that are insensitive to chemotherapy probably have little to gain from subsequent extensive surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate sequential FDG-PET/CT examinations as an indicator of chemotherapy response.Materials and methods: Between 2007 and 2015, 50 patients with oligometastatic invasive bladder cancer selected for induction chemotherapy underwent two FDG-PET/CT examinations: the first before the start of chemotherapy and the second after three courses of cisplatinum-based combination chemotherapy. Responders were given up to six courses of chemotherapy. FDG-PET/CT response was correlated with histological response in excised lymph-node metastases.Results: Three...

Objectives: To investigate the long-term functional outcomes and complications after continent cutaneous diversion with the Lundiana pouch. Patients and Methods: Complications, re-operations, renal function, and continence were ascertained from patient charts. Outcome variables were validated by a second and independent review of the patient files. Results: A complication of Clavien-Dindo grade ≥III, including unscheduled re-admissions, occurred in 45/193 patients (23%) at ≤90 days of surgery. At a median follow-up of 13 years, 105/193 patients (54%) had undergone at least one re-operation, with uretero-intestinal stricture being the most prevalent cause [28 patients (15%)]. Re-operations were more prevalent in patients operated during the first half of the study period than during the second half (2000-2007; 62% vs 47%; P = 0.03), and they were also more frequent in patients who underwent surgery for benign causes than in patients who underwent surgery for malignancy (60% vs 51%; P = 0.04). Continence was achieved in 172/188 patients (91%). In all, 16% of all patients required revisional surgery of the outlet to remain continent with an easily catheterisable pouch or to address stomal stenosis. The mean decrease in estimated glomerular filtration rate was more pronounced in patients with benign indications for urinary diversion than in those with malignancies, even after adjusting for younger age at surgery and longer follow-up in the former group (22 vs 11 mL/min/1.73 m2; P < 0.006). A disinterested third-party assessment revealed 10 postoperative complications, 17 re-operations during follow-up, and seven occasions of hospitalisation due to pyelonephritis (included in data above) not recorded at the primary data review. Conclusions: The Lundiana pouch is associated with a high risk of re-operation, although the functional results are good. Independent review by a third party increased the validity of the outcome data. (Less)

In this randomized study by Onishi et al. [1] the use of a single immediate instillation of Mitomycin-C (SI) is compared to continuous saline bladder irrigation (CSBI) after transurethral resection...

"I prefer male enemies to female ones; I can survive a dog's bite better than a scorpion's sting."(Matshona Dhliwayo)IntroductionEquitable access for women to employment, entrepreneurship and credit cannot be considered simply a "women's issue" (Joshi et al., 2015). In light of the causes of the recent financial crisis, the question can be raised of whether a more balanced representation of women, in industrial and financial firms, would have avoided corporate scandals and poor performance (Adams and Funk, 2012). Recent institutional policy interventions, such as gender quotas in corporate leading positions, show clear proof that gender equality and discrimination are now strategic issues.These reasons contributed to the success of microfinance institutions (MFIs) that are considered women paladins in the financial industry giving them access to credit. MFIs are a valid alternative to a conventional bank when providing financing to disadvantaged and poor people (Yunus et al., 2010; Quayes, 2012). Through smaller loans (outreach depth) granted to as many clients as possible (outreach breadth), MFIs promise to fight poverty, contribute to pro-poor growth (Mayoux, 2010) and to the empowerment of women who are the natural borrowers of these organizations (Strom et al., 2014). This evidence is driven by at least four reasons. First, in poor countries, women are poorer than men (Agier and Szafarz, 2013) and consequently they are natural candidates for MFIs to the point that their percentage on total borrowers has been used as a proxy of outreach depth (Mori et al., 2015). Second, women are usually considered credit constrained (Fletschner, 2008; 2009), investing in small-scale projects that are unattractive to conventional banks (Armendariz and Morduch, 2010). Third, capital access to women ensures more social (Aggarwal et al., 2015) and economic (Fletschner, 2008) benefits to their households than would occur if borrowers were men. Finally, women are better re-payers, enhancing the persistence of the usually fragile business model of the MFIs (Boehe and Cruz, 2013; D'Espallier et al., 2011).While women are the main target of MFIs and their empowerment has become crucial in microfinance, a still unanswered question is whether they face gender discrimination in credit conditions. In fact, in an attempt to grant smaller loans to as many clients as possible, credit rationing could potentially damage women, moving MFIs away from their mission of improving the condition of women and promoting their rights. Although gender discrimination cannot be treated as a marginal issue in microfinance (Mayoux, 2010), there are few studies on the topic and evidence ispuzzling, to say the least. For example, Storey (2002) does not find any denial rate divergence between men and women, as well as Corsi and De Angelis (2017) who find no evidence of gender discrimination against women borrowers in loan size. Agier and Szafarz (2013) document that women are discriminated in the size of loan, while Sagamba et al. (2013) observe a slight preference for female applicants.Our paper provides a perspective with the potential for accommodating the divergences found in the literature. We investigate the discrimination suffered by women borrowers, looking at the effect enhanced by women lenders in mitigating the phenomenon. The main idea is straightforward and fairly intuitive. We expect that the percentage of women employed in the MFIs shrinks the effect of smaller loans granted to women on the demand side for a sort of solidarity in sharing the "same traits." The failure to consider this aspect could be the reason for the mixed findings documented so far. To investigate this issue, we discriminate MFIs based on the roles of women inside the organization: top roles (CEO or board members) and operational roles (managers, officers, and staff). As we will show, a study which abstains from considering this distinction would be missing any robust explanatory power. …

Background: The delay between onset of macroscopic haematuria and diagnosis of bladder cancer is often long. Methods: We evaluated timely diagnosis and health-care costs for patients with macroscopic haematuria given fast-track access to diagnostics. During a 15-month period, a telephone hotline for fast-track diagnostics was provided in nine Swedish municipalities for patients aged ⩾50 years with macroscopic haematuria. The control group comprised 101 patients diagnosed with bladder cancer in the same catchment area with macroscopic haematuria who underwent regular diagnostic process. Results: In all 275 patients who called ‘the Red Phone' hotline were investigated, and 47 of them (17%) were diagnosed with cancer and 36 of those had bladder cancer. Median time from patient-reported haematuria to diagnosis was 29 (interquartile range (IQR) 14−104) days and 50 (IQR 27−165) days in the intervention and the control group, respectively (P=0.03). The median health-care costs were lower in the intervention group (655 (IQR 655−655) EUR) than in the control group (767 (IQR 490−1096) EUR) (P=0.002). Conclusions: Direct access to urologic expertise and fast-track diagnostics is motivated for patients with macroscopic haematuria to reduce diagnostic intervals and lower health-care expenditures.

Context The European Association of Urology non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) guidelines recommend that all low- and intermediate-risk patients receive a single immediate instillation of chemotherapy after transurethral resection of the bladder (TURB), but its use remains controversial. Objective To identify which NMIBC patients benefit from a single immediate instillation. Evidence acquisition A systematic review and individual patient data (IPD) meta-analysis of randomized trials comparing the efficacy of a single instillation after TURB with TURB alone in NMIBC patients was carried out. Evidence synthesis A total of 13 eligible studies were identified. IPD were obtained for 11 studies randomizing 2278 eligible patients, 1161 to TURB and 1117 to a single instillation of epirubicin, mitomycin C, pirarubicin, or thiotepa. A total of 1128 recurrences, 108 progressions, and 460 deaths (59 due to bladder cancer [BCa]) occurred. A single instillation reduced the risk of recurrence by 35% (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.65; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.58-0.74; p < 0.001) and the 5-yr recurrence rate from 58.8% to 44.8%. The instillation did not reduce recurrences in patients with a prior recurrence rate of more than one recurrence per year or in patients with an European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) recurrence score ≥5. The instillation did not prolong either the time to progression or death from BCa, but it resulted in an increase in the overall risk of death (HR: 1.26; 95% CI, 1.05-1.51; p = 0.015; 5-yr death rates 12.0% vs 11.2%), with the difference appearing in patients with an EORTC recurrence score ≥5. Conclusions A single immediate instillation reduced the risk of recurrence, except in patients with a prior recurrence rate of more than one recurrence per year or an EORTC recurrence score ≥5. It does not prolong either time to progression or death from BCa. The instillation may be associated with an increase in the risk of death in patients at high risk of recurrence in whom the instillation is not effective or recommended. Patient summary A single instillation of chemotherapy immediately after resection reduces the risk of recurrence in non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer; however, it should not be given to patients at high risk of recurrence due to its lack of efficacy in this subgroup.

Clear cell adenocarcinoma of the female urethra is a rare tumour of unknown origin. Here, we report 4 patients with such malignancy and argue for proper identification of the disease entity and radical surgery based on the available literature.

Disruption of the homeostatic balance of intestinal dendritic cells (DCs) and macrophages (MQs) may contribute to inflammatory bowel disease. We characterized DC and MQ populations, including their ability to produce retinoic acid, in clinical material encompassing Crohn’s ileitis, Crohn’s colitis and ulcerative colitis (UC) as well as mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) draining these sites. Increased CD14+DRint MQs characterized inflamed intestinal mucosa while total CD141+ or CD1c+ DCs numbers were unchanged. However, CD103+ DCs, including CD141+CD103+ and CD1c+CD103+ DCs, were reduced in inflamed intestine. In MLNs, two CD14− DC populations were identified: CD11cintHLADRhi and CD11chiHLADRint cells. A marked increase of CD11chiHLADRint DC, particularly DRintCD1c+ DCs, characterized MLNs draining inflamed intestine. The fraction of DC and MQ populations expressing aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity, reflecting retinoic acid synthesis, in UC colon, both in active disease and remission, were reduced compared to controls and inflamed Crohn’s colon. In contrast, no difference in the frequency of ALDH+ cells among blood precursors was detected between UC patients and non-inflamed controls. This suggests that ALDH activity in myeloid cells in the colon of UC patients, regardless of whether the disease is active or in remission, is influenced by the intestinal environment.

In this presentation the stage of the microfinance industry in Iceland will be accounted for. Short introduction of the industry in Iceland will be made. Many microfinance institutions have been set up in the developing world causing great success in decreasing poverty in the area. The popularity in these institutions have ben noticed in the developed world and now, many microfinance institutions have been established in the developed west, including in Iceland. While the situation is not the same in Iceland as in the developed world, I will try to answer the following question ,,have the microfinance institutions in Iceland brought prosperity to their borrowers or are they worse off after taking microfinance loans??.