These studies characterize differential mechanistic capacity of the immunophilin-binding immunosuppressive drugs (comparable to hydrocortisone) to inhibit both iNOS and COX-2 expression. Inhibition of iNOS and COX-2 mRNA accumulation by cyclosporin and rapamycin seem to be distinct. These studies also highlight potential anti-inflammatory properties of these drugs in addition to their known immunosuppressive activity.

349 haviour when exposed to forces different from the axial. This would have led to a micro-movement and a mechanical instability at the fixtureabutment connection. Internal connections were developed to eliminate or eventually decrease the micro-movement at the connection level. Various studies investigated the mechanical and clinical implications of different kind of connections assuming that different implant-abutment connections might have different resistance to displacement and stress dissipation under functional load. It seems clear that micro-movement at the implant-abutment interface would have increased inflammation at connection level contributing to a marginal bone loss (2). Authors assumed that it is necessary to improve the mechanical properties of the connections that are actually available and that there is still lack of strong evidence of which of them behaviour better than the others clinically. The aim of this ar-SUMMARY Different implant-abutment connections have been developed in the effort of reducing mechanical and biological failure. The most frequent complications are screw loosening, abutment or implant fracture and marginal bone loss due to overload and bacterial micro-leakage. Ideal connection should work as a one-piece implant avoiding the formation of a micro-gap at the implant-abutment interface. Different in vitro and in vivo researches have been published to compare the implant-abutment connections actually available: external hexagon, internal hexagon and conical finding different amount of micro-gap, micro-leakage and marginal bone loss. The aim of this article is to describe, according to the most recent literature, different kind of fixture-abutment connections and their clinical and mechanical advantages or disadvantages.

A 12-year-old boy shows a restless sleep and snoring episodes declaring himself tired during the day and the school lessons. On clinical examination the patient presents a second-class profile, a retrusive jaw with a small chin and an open nasolabial angle. From the intraoral examination a tonsillar hypertrophy is denoted. The patient is sent by the ear, nose, and throat specialist (ENT) and subsequently subjected to a polysomnography (PSG). The ENT decides to subject him to a tonsillectomy and the subsequent PSG shows an improvement in the obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) pathology with an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) improved from 25.5 episodes/hr to 3.4 episodes/hr. Subsequently a orthodontic treatment with twin-block was start to further reduce the apnea episodes. The last PSG highlights the success of the treatment further lowering the AHI to 0.7 episodes/hr. This case report shows how a multidisciplinary approach to OSAS is fundamental also in the young patient and that the orthodontist carried out in this area a fundamental task both in diagnosis and treatment.

BackgroundThe styloid process is a projecton of the temporal bone, its lenght is between 20 to 30 mm, when it is longer than 30 mm it is defined elongated styloid process. The aim of this study is an epidemiological evaluation of 1003 digital panoramic radiographs in an Italian population between 5 and 90 years old.Material and MethodsThis is a retrospective analysis and the radiographs were selected from the Complex Operating Unit of Dentistry of Padua University Hospital database. The radiographs were performed using a Sirona Ortophos XG and the styloid process length was measured using the measuring tool of Sidexis Software. It was measured from the point where it left the temporal bone plate to its tip. Styloid processes measuring more than 30 mm were considered elongated. Chi-squared test, Fligner-Killeen test, Shapiro-Wilk test and t-test with Welch correction were performed.ResultsIn the study 33.40% of the patients showed an elongated styloid process.ConclusionsThe number of patients with elongated styloid process and the mean length of the process increase with the age confirming the chronic development of the calcification described in literature. No statistically significant correlation is found between the presence of elongated styloid process and the gender and affected side (bilateral or unilateral). Key words:Elongated styloid process, panoramic radiograph, epidemiological study, Eagle’s syndrome.