protected function loadItems($userId)  {
        $maxTiers = Gpf_Settings::get(Pap_Settings::TIERS_VISIBLE_TO_AFFILIATE);
        if ($maxTiers == -1) {
            return parent::loadItems($userId);
        }

        $currentUserId = Gpf_Session::getAuthUser()->getPapUserId();
        $numberOfTiers = -1;
        if($userId != '') {
            try {
                $numberOfTiers = $this->getNumberOfTiersToAncestor($userId, $currentUserId);
            } catch (Gpf_Exception $e) {
            }
        }

        if ($userId == '' && $maxTiers == 0) {
            return new Gpf_Data_RecordSet();
        }

        if ($numberOfTiers >= $maxTiers-2) {
            $lastTier = true;
        } else {
            $lastTier = false;
        }
        return parent::loadItems($userId, $lastTier);

    }
 protected function loadItems($itemId, $lastTier = false)  {
     if (!$this->isItemIdCorrect($itemId)) {
         return new Gpf_Data_RecordSet();
     }
     return parent::loadItems($itemId, $lastTier);
 }