Is increased time to diagnosis and treatment in symptomatic cancer associated with poorer outcomes?:Systematic review

background: It is unclear whether more timely cancer diagnosis brings favourable outcomes, with much of the previous evidence, in some cancers, being equivocal. We set out to determine whether there is an association between time to diagnosis, treatment and clinical outcomes, across all cancers for symptomatic presentations. methods: Systematic review of the literature and narrative synthesis. results: We included 177 articles reporting 209 studies. These studies varied in study design, the time intervals assessed and the outcomes reported. Study quality was variable, with a small number of higher-quality studies. Heterogeneity precluded definitive findings. The cancers with more reports of an association between shorter times to diagnosis and more favourable outcomes were breast, colorectal, head and neck, testicular and melanoma. conclusions: This is the first review encompassing many cancer types, and we have demonstrated those cancers in which more evidence of an association between shorter times to diagnosis and more favourable outcomes exists, and where it is lacking. We believe that it is reasonable to assume that efforts to expedite the diagnosis of symptomatic cancer are likely to have benefits for patients in terms of improved survival, earlier-stage diagnosis and improved quality of life, although these benefits vary between cancers

Effect of different management on the production characteristics of mountain permanent meadows

Many studies were carried out to define the effects of different management, and particularly of the fertilisation, on the botanical composition and the quantitative characteristics of the production of the forage crops. Differing from the Northern versant of the Alps (Scehovic, 1995), in Italy the studies underlining the effects of the management on the qualitative characteristics of the forage production were partial or absent, particularly those regarding the meadows (Bassignana, 1998). In order to contribute to identify suitable forms of management according to the productive priorities of the Italian mountain areas,.........

The animal husbandry-forage system and the protection of Alpine environment

none3noneANDRIGHETTO I; R. CAVALLI; ZILIOTTO UAndrighetto, Igino; Cavalli, Raffaele; Ziliotto, U

Variability of some qualitative forage characteristics in Italian Lucerne ecotypes under different cutting schedules

Quantitative characteristics of yield of Lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) rotate meadows could be affect by various factors, of which the most important are: environment of meadow location, fertilization (amount and kind of nutrients), irrigation, climatic conditions, harvest period, vegetative stage and also the cultivar used (Parrini e Bonari, 2002).With the aim to contribute to define the effect of the last factor mentioned on the qualitative characteristics of the Lucerne yield, a plot trial was carried out for two years where 15 cultivars of Lucerne and......

Chemical composition and nutritive value of alpine pasture's species in North-eastern Italy

none3noneZILIOTTO U.; SCOTTON M.; D'OTTAVIO P.Ziliotto, Umberto; Scotton, Michele; D'Ottavio, P

Comparison of turf performance and root systems of bermudagrass cultivars and 'Companion' zoysiagrass

none3The sustainability of cool-season grasses in temperate climates (transition zones) has been questioned because of a high irrigation requirement during the summer months. To reduce the amount of water used for irrigation, warm-season turf species such as Cynodon dactylon L. and Zoysia japonica Steud. have been introduced into Mediterranean countries. Research was conducted at the University of Padova, Italy to investigate several root characteristics and turf performance of four bermuda-grasses and one zoysiagrass in the transitional climate of northeastern Italy. The study included Cynodon dactylon cultivars 'Yukon', 'Riviera', 'NuMex Sahara', and 'La Paloma' and Zoysia japonica 'Companion'. Visual ratings for color and density were taken monthly during the growing season of 2007 and averaged for spring, summer, and fall. In September 2007 turf cores were collected from each plot to determine absolute values for root length density (RLD), root weight density (RWD), and root diameter in the thatch layer and at five soil depths: 0-3, 3-8, 8-15, 15-25 and 25-40 cm. Weighted means were calculated for 0-40 cm. There was no difference in RLD and RWD in the thatch layer among cultivars. 'La Paloma' had the highest RLD and RWD and 'Yukon' and 'Companion' zoysiagrass exhibited the lowest RLD and RWD for weighted means. 'Yukon' exhibited the darkest green color and 'Companion' the lightest during summer and fall. 'Yukon' and 'Riviera' provided the highest stand density and 'Companion' the lowest throughout the investigative period. Summer color correlated significantly (P<0.05) with all measured root parameters at the soil depth of 25-40 cm. Summer turf color also correlated significantly (P<0.05) with the weighted means of root length and root weight yielding correlation coefficients of 0.51 and 0.52, respectively. No correlation could be established between stand density and rooting.noneS. Macolino;U. Ziliotto;B. LeinauerMacolino, Stefano; Ziliotto, Umberto; B., Leinaue