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We report the first observation of sclerosteosis in Spain. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of sclerosteosis in a person of Mediterranean origin with no known Dutch ancestors. He has the characteristic phenotype of the disease with right facial nerve palsy and syndactyly and the typical radiological features, including generalised bone sclerosis and cortical widening of the tubular bones.

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Background: Peatlands play a key role in the global carbon cycle; these contain one third of the world's soil organic carbon, equivalent to more than half the amount of carbon in the atmosphere. Nevertheless, these ecosystems have been scarcely studied in southern South America. The main objective of this paper is to evaluate the recent accumulation rates of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) in two kinds of oligotrofic peatlands in Isla Grande de Chiloé (Chile). Results: Using peat C and N content, dry bulk density, and Pb-210 dating, we determined the rates of N and C accumulation in profiles from five peatlands in the northern Chilean Patagonia. The recent rate of C accumulation (RERCA) ranges from 8.5 to 87.06 g C m −2 year −1 , and the recent rate of N accumulation (RERNA) ranges from 0.15 to 2.37 g N m −2 year −1 . The difference in RERCA and RERNA between glacial peatlands and anthropogenic peatlands was significant. One of the remarkable results is that accumulation of N and C are directly related. Conclusions: This study contributes for a better understanding of the Patagonian peatlands of Chile. In addition, this research contributes by setting a basis for conducting further studies and for assessing the impacts of climate change on peatlands.

Peatlands are one of the most important carbon cycle regulatory ecosystems, and are influenced by global climate change. However, studies of this kind of wetland are scarce in southern South America. In this study we performed a detailed analysis of recent accumulation rates of carbon (RERCA) in two types of Sphagnum peatland in Isla Grande de Chiloé (Chile) (42°-43°S and 75°-73°W). Monoliths of peat in continuous depths were analyzed and assigned ages using 210 Pb dating. The results showed a difference between the two types of peatland; the average rate for the anthropogenic peatland (107.34 ±113.9 g C m-2 yr-1) was superior to that of the natural peatland (78.33±77.1 g C m-2 yr-1). The surface profiles (30 cm) clearly revealed the recent rate of carbon accumulation for the past 100 years in Sphagnum peatlands of Northern Patagonia. The rate for the natural peatland is within the range found for ombrotrophic peatlands in the Northern Hemisphere. However, the rate estimated for the anthropogenic peatland was significantly greater than those reported in other parts of the world. Our results provide evidence of the importance of these unique ecosystems in the carbon accumulation process.