No abstract

The mRNA of the nuclear coactivator peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator-1alpha (PGC-1alpha) increases during prolonged exercise and is influenced by carbohydrate availability. It is unknown if the increases in mRNA reflect the PGC-1alpha protein or if glycogen stores are an important regulator. Seven male subjects [23 +/- 1.3 yr old, maximum oxygen uptake (Vo(2 max)) 48.4 +/- 0.8 ml.kg(-1).min(-1)] exercised to exhaustion ( approximately 2 h) at 65% Vo(2 max) followed by ingestion of either a high-carbohydrate (HC) or low-carbohydrate (LC) diet (7 or 2.9 g.kg(-1).day(-1), respectively) for 52 h of recovery. Glycogen remained depressed in LC (P < 0.05) while returning to resting levels by 24 h in HC. PGC-1alpha mRNA increased both at exhaustion (3-fold) and 2 h later (6.2-fold) (P < 0.05) but returned to rest levels by 24 h. PGC-1alpha protein increased (P < 0.05) 23% at exhaustion and remained elevated for at least 24 h (P < 0.05). While there was no direct treatment effect (HC vs. LC) for PGC-1alpha mRNA or protein, there was a linear relationship between the changes in glycogen and those in PGC-1alpha protein during exercise and recovery (r = -0.68, P < 0.05). In contrast, PGC-1beta did not increase with exercise but rather decreased (P < 0.05) below rest level at 24 and 52 h, and the decrease was greater (P < 0.05) in LC. PGC-1alpha protein content increased in prolonged exercise and remained upregulated for 24 h, but this could not have been predicted by the changes in mRNA. The beta-isoform declined rather than increasing, and this was greater when glycogen was not resynthesized to rest levels.

Depression among older adults is a major public health concern leading to increased disability and mortality. Less than 3% of older adults utilize professional mental health services for the treatment of depression, less than any other adult age group. And despite similar rates of depression, African Americans are significantly less likely to seek, engage and be retained in professional mental health services than their white counterparts. Cultural differences in the way depression symptoms are manifested, defined, interpreted and labeled may in part explain some of these racial differences in help-seeking behaviors. Focus group methodology was utilized to identify and explore attitudes and beliefs about depression and mental health treatment utilization among 42 older African Americans who had recently suffered a major depressive episode. Thematic analysis of identified six overarching themes: (a) perceptions of depression, (b) the African American experience, (c) seeking treatment as a last resort, (d) myths about treatment, (e) stigma associated with seeking treatment and (f) culturally appropriate coping strategies. We discuss implications for practice, education and research.

No abstract

This study sought to identify the principles and practices underpinning effective inclusive teacher education for special educational needs (SEN) in ordinary schools through an inclusive action research project. The findings demonstrate that where practitioner development involves critical-theoretical, reflexive, research-oriented collaborations among a professional learning community, practitioners become more confident and skilful in enacting inclusive practice. This community was formed in the context of a school-university partnership and included pre-service teachers, experienced teachers, teaching assistants and university tutors. Its findings cast serious doubt over the efficacy of de-intellectualised, ‘on the job’ training models favoured by policy makers in England and elsewhere