Possible effects of climate change on estuarine nutrient fluxes: a case study in the highly nutrified Schelde estuary (Belgium, The Netherlands)

Global change models predict effects of climate change on hydrological regimes at the continental scale in Europe. The aim of this study was to gain a better understanding of the possible effect of changing external forcing conditions on the functioning of estuarine ecosystems. In densely populated areas, anthropogenic nutrient enrichment and consequent alteration of nutrient biogeochemical cycles have already had a big impact on these ecosystems. The average yearly discharge of the upper Schelde estuary increased nearly threefold over the period 1996–2000, from 28 m3 s-1 in 1996 to 73 m3 s-1 in 2000. The continuously rising discharge conditions over the five-year period were used as a reference situation for possible future effects of climate on ecological functioning through increase of discharge. At high discharges, nutrient (NH4+, NO3-, dissolved silica and PO43-) concentrations in the tidal fresh- and brackish water showed a decrease of up to 50% while total discharged nutrient loadings increased up to 100%. Opposite effects of increasing discharge on NH4+, NO3- and dissolved silica concentrations in summer and winter, resulted in the flattening out of seasonal cycles for these nutrients. Under high discharge conditions, silica uptake by diatom communities was lowered. Dissolved silica loadings to the coastal area increased concurrently with total silica loadings upstream. Salt intrusion to the marine parts of the estuary decreased. This resulted in a downstream shift of the salinity gradient, with lower salinity observed near the mouth. As a result, TDIN, NO3- and dissolved silica concentrations doubled at the mouth of the estuary

Potential effects of global change on estuarine nutrient fluxes

One of the major worldwide problems in densely populated estuarine areas is the eutrophication of coastal waters. Studies, both observational and theoretical, addressing the issue of material fluxes to coastal zones under changing external forcing conditions, have a critical international importance. In contrast to N and P, the silica concentration in estuaries is hardly influenced by human pollution. Increased N-concentrations can lead to succession of diatom communities to phytoplankton communities with less favorable properties. Global change models predict effects of climate change on hydrological regimes at the continental scale in Europe. Schelde freshwater discharges could increase up to 28 %. Strongly increasing freshwater discharges over the period 1996-2000 in the upper Schelde estuary could be an example for future changes in estuarine and coastal response to excessive nutrient loading due to human impact on the global climate. Effects in the upper estuarine areas were totally different to effects at the mouth of the estuary. In winter, when discharge increase was highest, dilution resulted in lower concentrations of NH4+, PO43- and total nitrogen in the upper and brackish parts of the estuary. Nitrate and oxygen concentrations increased. Significant regressions were observed between trends and discharge regime. In summer, when discharge increases were not as high as in winter, no dilution was observed. Moreover, lower residence times in the freshwater due to higher discharges, have a negative effect on water quality in the brackish estuary in summer, as more unprocessed NH4+ is transported downstream, which results in very low oxygen conditions. In summer, high discharges result in the complete flushing of entire diatom communities in the freshwater reach of the estuary, which resulted in much higher dissolved Si concentrations. Total discharged loads of nitrogen, phosphorus and silica increased spectacularly over the study period. Nitrate and silica concentrations in the coastal waters, the two main actors in coastal eutrophication, were significantly correlated to total yearly discharges observed upstream. Effective measurements against non-point pollution and insight in the role of intertidal areas in regulating non-point nutrient fluxes become more important than ever in the light of increasing discharge

Evolution of water quality in the freshwater Zeeschelde (96-00): a reason for optimism? (poster)

The evolution of water quality in the freshwater part of the Zeeschelde was monitored since 1996. Until now, most research in the Schelde estuary has focused on the marine and brackish part of the Zeeschelde. Often, concentration trends are used to evaluate the success or absence of success of pollution control measures. The total discharge of nutrients to the brackish and marine part of the estuary from the freshwater upper estuary is a function of both the concentration of these nutrients in the freshwater and the total volume of water discharged. It is important to realize that a change in nutrient concentration does not automatically implicate a change in nutrient loading. Assessing the success of restoration programs by concentration trends only is therefore not sufficient. Discharge influence on nutrient and oxygen concentration was compared seasonally between winter and summer period. It is clearly shown that observed amelioration of water quality must almost certainly be attributed to the strongly increasing discharges during the same period. If we measure water quality by nutrient loads exported to the lower estuary, the same increasing discharge results in heavily increasing loads of nutrients

The ecological functioning of the Scheldt estuary: towards integration of research

The Scheldt Estuary is confronted with a loss of functionality, mostly if ecological functions are considere. The system capacity of purifying water is weakened. The ecological infrastructure is scattered. Flood waves gain strength. It is a scientific challenge to quantify to what degree tidal wetlands can support restoration of the ecological functioning of the estuary. It is illustrated that an integrated multidisciplinary approach is a satisfying strategy to obtain adequate system knowledge so that the complex role of wetlands can be understood. The results of OMES, an integrated research program are presented for this purpose. Mass balances indicated that tidal wetlands aerate the water column, remove nitrogen from the overlying water and regenerate dissolved silica. Sedimentation takes place, but soil formation only happens in the most elevated parts. The interactions with the wetland vegetation were targeted at different levels. On the level of individual plants, nutrient removal from the root zone was studied. This resulted in a diagenetic model. On species level (in casu Phragmites australis), a model was developed that allows predicting growth under different factors. On plant community level, a model was constructed that shows how development of tidal marsh vegetation is mainly controlled by local management, flooding frequency and the salt gradient. The coupling of these models formed a marsh submodel unit that can be incorporated in an ecological model covering the whole estuary

Non-traumatic chronic shoulder pain is not associated with changes in rotator cuff interval tendon thickness

To determine whether the thickness of the rotator interval tendons is different when comparing both symptomatic and non-symptomatic sides in people with chronic shoulder pain, and to those free of pain. Furthermore, to calculate the level of association between the rotator interval tendon thicknesses and perceived shoulder pain-function. A cross-sectional, observational study. The supraspinatus, subscapularis and biceps brachii tendon thickness of sixty two patients with chronic shoulder pain were determined from standardized ultrasonography measures performed on both shoulders, whereas only the dominant arm was measured for the control subjects. Supraspinatus, subscapularis and biceps brachii tendon thickness was comparable between sides in the symptomatic group and was also comparable between the symptomatic and asymptomatic participants. In addition, the correlation between the tendon thickness and shoulder pain-function was non-significant. Tendon thickness was unaltered in people with chronic shoulder pain. These findings do not rule out the possibility that other changes in the tendon are present such as changes in the elastic properties and cell population and this should be explored in future studies

The COOH-Terminal Peptide of Platelet Factor-4 Variant (CXCL4L1/PF-4var47-70) Strongly Inhibits Angiogenesis and Suppresses B16 Melanoma Growth In vivo.

Chemokines influence tumor growth directly or indirectly via both angiogenesis and tumor-leukocyte interactions. Platelet factor-4 (CXCL4/PF-4), which is released from alpha-granules of activated platelets, is the first described angiostatic chemokine. Recently, it was found that the variant of CXCL4/PF-4 (CXCL4L1/PF-4var) could exert a more pronounced angiostatic and antitumoral effect than CXCL4/PF-4. However, the molecular mechanisms of the angiostatic activities of the PF-4 forms remain partially elusive. Here, we studied the biological properties of the chemically synthesized COOH-terminal peptides of CXCL4/PF-4 (CXCL4/PF-4(47-70)) and CXCL4L1/PF-4var (CXCL4L1/PF-4var(47-70)). Both PF-4 peptides lacked monocyte and lymphocyte chemotactic activity but equally well inhibited (25 nmol/L) endothelial cell motility and proliferation in the presence of a single stimulus (i.e., exogenous recombinant fibroblast growth factor-2). In contrast, when assayed in more complex angiogenesis test systems characterized by the presence of multiple mediators, including in vitro wound-healing (2.5 nmol/L versus 12.5 nmol/L), Matrigel (60 nmol/L versus 300 nmol/L), and chorioallantoic membrane assays, CXCL4L1/PF-4var(47-70) was found to be significantly (5-fold) more angiostatic than CXCL4/PF-4(47-70). In addition, low (7 mug total) doses of intratumoral CXCL4L1/PF-4var(47-70) inhibited B16 melanoma growth in mice more extensively than CXCL4/PF-4(47-70). This antitumoral activity was predominantly mediated through inhibition of angiogenesis (without affecting blood vessel stability) and induction of apoptosis, as evidenced by immunohistochemical and fluorescent staining of B16 tumor tissue. In conclusion, CXCL4L1/PF-4var(47-70) is a potent antitumoral and antiangiogenic peptide. These results may represent the basis for the design of CXCL4L1/PF-4var COOH-terminal-derived peptidomimetic anticancer drugs. Mol Cancer Res; 8(3); 322-34

PF-4var/CXCL4L1 Predicts Outcome in Stable Coronary Artery Disease Patients with Preserved Left Ventricular Function

Background: Platelet-derived chemokines are implicated in several aspects of vascular biology. However, for the chemokine platelet factor 4 variant (PF-4var/CXCL4L1), released by platelets during thrombosis and with different properties as compared to PF-4/CXCL4, its role in heart disease is not yet studied. We evaluated the determinants and prognostic value of the platelet-derived chemokines PF-4var, PF-4 and RANTES/CCL5 in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD). Methodology/Principal Findings: From 205 consecutive patients with stable CAD and preserved left ventricular (LV) function, blood samples were taken at inclusion and were analyzed for PF-4var, RANTES, platelet factor-4 and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP). Patients were followed (median follow-up 2.5 years) for the combined endpoint of cardiac death, non-fatal acute myocardial infarction, stroke or hospitalization for heart failure. Independent determinants of PF-4var levels (median 10 ng/ml; interquartile range 8-16 ng/ml) were age, gender and circulating platelet number. Patients who experienced cardiac events (n = 20) during follow-up showed lower levels of PF-4var (8.5 [5.3-10] ng/ml versus 12 [8-16] ng/ml, p = 0.033). ROC analysis for events showed an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.82 (95% CI 0.73-0.90, p<0.001) for higher NT-proBNP levels and an AUC of 0.32 (95% CI 0.19-0.45, p = 0.009) for lower PF-4var levels. Cox proportional hazard analysis showed that PF-4var has an independent prognostic value on top of NT-proBNP. Conclusions: We conclude that low PF-4var/CXCL4L1 levels are associated with a poor outcome in patients with stable CAD and preserved LV function. This prognostic value is independent of NT-proBNP levels, suggesting that both neurohormonal and platelet-related factors determine outcome in these patients

PF4V1 (Platelet Factor 4 Variant 1)

Review on PF4V1 (Platelet Factor 4 Variant 1), with data on DNA, on the protein encoded, and where the gene is implicated

PF4 (platelet factor 4)

Review on PF4, with data on DNA/RNA, on the protein encoded and where the gene is implicated