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- A comparison of the temporary placement of 3 different self-expanding stents for the treatment of refractory benign esophageal strictures: a prospective multicentre studyPublication . Canena, Jorge Manuel T.; Liberato, Manuel José A.; Rio-Tinto, Ricardo António N.; Pinto-Marques, Pedro M.; Romão, Carlos Manuel M.; Coutinho, António Vasco Mello Pereira; Neves, Beatriz Alda Henriques Costa; Santos-Silva, Maria Filipa Costa NevesBackground: Refractory benign esophageal strictures (RBESs) have been treated with the temporary placement of different self-expanding stents with conflicting results. We compared the clinical effectiveness of 3 types of stents: self-expanding plastic stents (SEPSs), biodegradable stents, and fully covered self-expanding metal stents (FCSEMSs), for the treatment of RBES.Methods: This study prospectively evaluated 3 groups of 30 consecutive patients with RBESs who underwent temporary placement of either SEPSs (12 weeks, n = 10), biodegradable stents (n = 10) or FCSEMSs (12 weeks, n = 10). Data were collected to analyze the technical success and clinical outcome of the stents as evaluated by recurrent dysphagia, complications and reinterventions.Results: Stent implantation was technically successful in all patients. Migration occurred in 11 patients: 6 (60%) in the SEPS group, 2 (20%) in the biodegradable group and 3 (30%) in the FCSEMS group (P = 0.16). A total of 8/30 patients (26.6%) were dysphagia-free after the end of follow-up: 1 (10%) in the SEPS group, 3 (30%) in the biodegradable group and 4 (40%) in the FCSEMS group (P = 0.27). More reinterventions were required in the SEPS group (n = 24) than in the biodegradable group (n = 13) or the FCSEMS group (n = 13) (P = 0.24). Multivariate analysis showed that stricture length was significantly associated with higher recurrence rates after temporary stent placement (HR = 1.37; 95% CI = 1.08-1.75; P = 0.011).Conclusions: Temporary placement of a biodegradable stent or of a FCSEMS in patients with RBES may lead to long-term relief of dysphagia in 30 and 40% of patients, respectively. The use of SEPSs seems least preferable, as they are associated with frequent stent migration, more reinterventions and few cases of long-term improvement. Additionally, longer strictures were associated with a higher risk of recurrence.
- Is going public a good path for microfinance institutions? : a case study analysis of SKS's IPO and its post-issue performancePublication . Reis, Ana Sofia Rodrigues Peres Ramos; Gupta, JyotiCompanies go public in order to obtain more attractive financing prices from stock markets in exchange for the promise of delivering profits to the investors who buy their stock. Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) aim at alleviating poverty in the society by providing the poor with opportunities for the creation and development of income generating activities. The uprise in the number of connections between capitalist interests and social ones originated several discussions and controversies among the microfinance community. This paper presents SKS Microfinance IPO, which was the first Microfinance Institution in India to go public. The IPO was a success and so were the ensuing 5 weeks. However, soon afterwards a crisis was triggered in the industry, making SKS’s value fall enormously. In this study it is our goal to understand the reasons behind SKS’s performance and whether going public is a viable path for Microfinance Institutions. Our analysis focuses on the internal and external factors behind the company's market performance, its operational evolution, and its position relative to its peers. We discover that the factors influencing SKS performance were specific to its managerial distress and to external conflicts arising in the sector. With strategic coherence and market transparency we believe there is an open way for MFIs to go public.