Online interventions for problem gamblers with and without co-occurring mental health symptoms: protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND Comorbidity between problem gambling and depression or anxiety is common. Further, the treatment needs of people with co-occurring gambling and mental health symptoms may be different from those of problem gamblers who do not have a co-occurring mental health concern. The current randomized controlled trial (RCT) will evaluate whether there is a benefit to providing access to mental health Internet interventions (G + MH intervention) in addition to an Internet intervention for problem gambling (G-only intervention) in participants with gambling problems who do or do not have co-occurring mental health symptoms. METHODS Potential participants will be screened using an online survey to identify participants meeting criteria for problem gambling. As part of the baseline screening process, measures of current depression and anxiety will be assessed. Eligible participants agreeing (N = 280) to take part in the study will be randomized to one of two versions of an online intervention for gamblers – an intervention that just targets gambling issues (G-only) versus a website that contains interventions for depression and anxiety in addition to an intervention for gamblers (G + MH). It is predicted that problem gamblers who do not have co-occurring mental health symptoms will display no significant difference between intervention conditions at a six-month follow-up. However, for those with co-occurring mental health symptoms, it is predicted that participants receiving access to the G + MH website will display significantly reduced gambling outcomes at six-month follow-up as compared to those provided with G-only website. DISCUSSION The trial will produce information on the best means of providing online help to gamblers with and without co-occurring mental health symptoms.This research was funded by the Manitoba Gambling Research Program of Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries

Odnosi dimenzija otolita s dužinom tijela kod europske jegulje Anguilla anguilla (Linnaeus, 1758) iz jadranskog sliva Crne Gore

This study examined the relationship between the sagittal otolith morphometric variables (length, height and weight) and body growth of the European eel. Eels that were studied ranged in total length from 11.2 to 79.5 cm. The relationships between the sagittal otolith variables and fish somatic growth were described with a non-linear function. The resulting coefficients of determination ((r^2)) ranged from 0.782 to 0.914. The variable most strongly related to fish size was found to be the sagittal otolith length (OL) with 91.4 % of the variability. The results of this study provide the first comprehensive data regarding the relationship between the sagittal otolith morphometric variables with the body length of Anguilla anguilla.U ovom radu se opisuje odnos između morfometrijskih varijabli sagitalnog otolita (duljina, visina i težina) i rasta tijela europske jegulje. Proučavane jegulje imale su raspon ukupne dužine od 11,2 do 79,5 cm. Odnos između sagitalnih otolitskih varijabli i somatskog rasta ribe opisani su nelinearnom funkcijom. Dobiveni koeficijenti određivanja ((r^2)) kretali su se od 0,782 do 0,914. Varijabla koja je najsnažnije povezana s veličinom riba utvrđena je na temelju sagitalne duljine otolita (OL) s 91,4% varijabilnosti. Rezultati ove studije pružaju prve sveobuhvatne podatke o odnosu između morfometrijskih varijabli sagitalnog otolita sa dužinom tijela Anguilla anguilla

In vitro evaluation of antimicrobial activity of the freshwater sponge Ochridaspongia rotunda (Arndt, 1937)

The antimicrobial activity of five crude extracts (aqueous, methanol, ethyl acetate, acetone and methylene chloride) of the freshwater sponge Ochridaspongia rotunda (Arndt, 1937) was evaluated in vitro by using microdilution method against eight bacterial and eight fungal strains for the first time. The extracts were proven to be active in varying degrees against all the bacteria and fungi tested. O. rotunda methanol extract exhibited the highest antibacterial activity (minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) 7.5-15.0 mu g/mL and minimum bactericidal concentration 15-30 mu g/mL), while its acetone extract exhibited the most promising antifungal activity (MIC 7.5-45.0 mu g/mL and minimum fungicidal concentration 15-60 mu g/mL). The extracts were more effective against the bacteria and fungi screened compared with the positive controls (streptomycin and ampicillin for bacteria and bifonazole and ketoconazole for fungi, respectively). According to the experimental data obtained, this deepwater sponge species may be considered as a gold mine of new antimicrobial substances with significant and broad-range activity.Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia {[}172053, 173032

Anti-quorum sensing activity of selected sponge extracts: a case study of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

The anti-quorum sensing activities towards the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA01 (pyocyanin production, biofilm formation and twitching and flagella motility) of two crude extracts (methanol and acetone) of the freshwater sponge Ochridaspongia rotunda (Arndt, 1937) were evaluated in vitro for the first time. Both extracts demonstrated P. aeruginosa pyocyanin inhibitory activity, reducing its production for 49.90\% and 42.44\%, respectively. In addition, they both showed higher anti-biofilm activity (48.29\% and 53.99\%, respectively) than ampicillin (30.84\%). Finally, O. rotunda extracts effectively reduced twitching and flagella motility of P. aeruginosa. Taken all together, these results suggest that endemic sponge species from the oldest lake in Europe may offer novel bioactive natural products with promising medicinal potential towards P. aeruginosa infections.Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia {[}172053, 173032

Online interventions for problem gamblers with and without co-occurring mental health symptoms: Protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Abstract Background Comorbidity between problem gambling and depression or anxiety is common. Further, the treatment needs of people with co-occurring gambling and mental health symptoms may be different from those of problem gamblers who do not have a co-occurring mental health concern. The current randomized controlled trial (RCT) will evaluate whether there is a benefit to providing access to mental health Internet interventions (G + MH intervention) in addition to an Internet intervention for problem gambling (G-only intervention) in participants with gambling problems who do or do not have co-occurring mental health symptoms. Methods Potential participants will be screened using an online survey to identify participants meeting criteria for problem gambling. As part of the baseline screening process, measures of current depression and anxiety will be assessed. Eligible participants agreeing (N = 280) to take part in the study will be randomized to one of two versions of an online intervention for gamblers – an intervention that just targets gambling issues (G-only) versus a website that contains interventions for depression and anxiety in addition to an intervention for gamblers (G + MH). It is predicted that problem gamblers who do not have co-occurring mental health symptoms will display no significant difference between intervention conditions at a six-month follow-up. However, for those with co-occurring mental health symptoms, it is predicted that participants receiving access to the G + MH website will display significantly reduced gambling outcomes at six-month follow-up as compared to those provided with G-only website. Discussion The trial will produce information on the best means of providing online help to gamblers with and without co-occurring mental health symptoms. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02800096 ; Registration date: June 14, 2016

Anti-quorum sensing activity of selected sponge extracts: a case study of <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i>

<div><p>The anti-quorum sensing activities towards the bacterium <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> PA01 (pyocyanin production, biofilm formation and twitching and flagella motility) of two crude extracts (methanol and acetone) of the freshwater sponge <i>Ochridaspongia rotunda</i> (Arndt, 1937) were evaluated <i>in vitro</i> for the first time. Both extracts demonstrated <i>P. aeruginosa</i> pyocyanin inhibitory activity, reducing its production for 49.90% and 42.44%, respectively. In addition, they both showed higher anti-biofilm activity (48.29% and 53.99%, respectively) than ampicillin (30.84%). Finally, <i>O. rotunda</i> extracts effectively reduced twitching and flagella motility of <i>P. aeruginosa</i>. Taken all together, these results suggest that endemic sponge species from the oldest lake in Europe may offer novel bioactive natural products with promising medicinal potential towards <i>P. aeruginosa</i> infections.</p></div