The aim was to validate self-perceived oral health with salivary IgG as an inflammatory parameter in children with type 1 diabetes. Unstimulated whole saliva samples were collected from 36 children with well controlled and 12 with poorly controlled type 1 diabetes and 40 non-diabetic children (Controls). Salivary flow rate, random blood glucose level, salivary protein concentration and immunoglobulin A and G levels were recorded using standard techniques. Data concerning oral health and diabetes status were collected. Self-perceived gingival bleeding (bleeding gums), bad breath and dry mouth were higher in diabetic children when compared with those in controls (P < 0.05). Gingival bleeding was frequently perceived by children with poorly controlled compared to well-controlled type 1 diabetes (P < 0.05) and controls (P < 0.001). Bad breath was common perceived by children with poorly controlled compared to well-controlled type 1 diabetes (P < 0.05) and controls (P < 0.0001). Salivary flow rate was lower in the diabetic children compared to controls (P < 0.01) with no difference between children with poorly controlled and well-controlled type 1 diabetes. Salivary IgG per mg protein concentration was higher in the diabetics when compared with the control group (P < 0.0001). IgG per mg protein levels were also higher in children with poorly controlled when compared with well-controlled type 1 diabetes (P < 0.05). There was no difference in IgA per mg protein and total protein concentrations between children with poorly controlled and well-controlled type 1 diabetes. Self-perceived gingival bleeding and salivary IgG per mg protein concentration were increased in children with type 1 diabetes compared with controls. These variables were also increased in children with poorly controlled compared with well-controlled type 1 diabetes.

Cellular membrane stability (CMS) is a physiological index widely used to evaluate thermostability in plants. The genetic basis of the character has been studied following two different approaches: restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis, and the effects of segregating heat shock protein (HSP) loci. RFLP analysis was based on a set of recombinant inbreds derived from the T32 × CM37 F1 hybrid and characterized for about 200 RFLP loci. Heritability of CMS estimated by standard quantitative analysis was 0.73. Regression analysis of CMS on RFLPs detected a minimum number of six quantitative trait loci (QTL) accounting for 53% of the genetic variability. The analysis of the matrices of correlation between RFLP loci, either within or between chromosomes, indicates that no false assignment was produced by this analysis. The effect of HSPs on the variability of the CMS was tested for a low-molecular-weight peptide (HSP-17) showing presence-absence of segregation in the B73 × Pa33 F2 population. Although the genetic variability of the character was very high (h (2)=0.58) the effect of HSP-17 was not significant, indicating either that the polypeptide is not involved in the determination of the character or that its effect is not statistically detectable.

There is evidence that male gametophyte selection is a widespread phenomenon in higher plants. The pollen tube growth rate is one of the main components of gametophyte selective value; genetic variability for this trait, due to the effect of single genes or to quantitative variation, has been described in maize. However, indication of gametophytic selection has been indirectly obtained; its effect was revealed by the positive relation observed between gametophyte competitive ability and sporophyte metrical traits.This paper considers the results of selection applied to gametophyte populations produced from single plants. The competitive ability of the lines was evaluated in comparison with that of a standard line by means of the pollen mixture technique. Sporophytic traits were measured in the hybrid progeny obtained by crossing selected S3 and S4 families with an unrelated single cross and an inbred line. Gametophyte selection produced inbred lines with high gametophyte competitive ability. In view of the selection procedure adopted, this result was interpreted as an indication of haploid expression of genes involved in the control of pollen tube growth. Moreover, this gametophytic trait was positively correlated with sporophytic traits (seedling weight, kernel weight and root tip growth in vitro), indicating that both groups of characters have a common genetic basis.

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