Liz Gorrie and the Kaleidoscope Alternative

The alternative theatre movement in Victoria tends to be associated with the tenure of Don Shipley at the Belfry Theatre (1975-80), but it was arguably by Liz Gorrie and the Kaleidoscope Theatre Company, a Theatre for Young Audiences, that the alternative theatre movement was first brought to the provincial capital. Starting in 1974 and during its first two decades under Gorrie’s artistic directorship, Kaleidoscope was as politically and aesthetically radical in its objectives and practices as such better-known 1970s companies as Tarragon, Tamahnous, Passe Muraille, and Toronto Free Theatre. Kaleidoscope not only created work that bears comparison with that of contemporary alternative theatre for adults, but thanks to the purity of Liz Gorrie’s theatrical vision, and her deep respect for young audiences, it developed a style of TYA that “changed the face of children’s theatre in Canada and around the world” (McLauchlin “Interview”). Recognizing Kaleidoscope’s contribution to the alternative theatre movement in this country will require a look at the many ways in which the company earned its alternative credentials—even while addressing audiences made up of children. Jennifer Wise and Lauren Jerke look first at the company’s genesis as a progressive alternative to the city’s mainstream regional theatre, then consider its indigenous and collectively created material, its Grotowskian and Brechtian objectives, its anti-illusionistic Asian aesthetic, and its use of masks, puppets, transformation, and abstraction. As Wise and Jerke show, Kaleidoscope in the 1970s and 1980s utilized a virtual encyclopedia of alternative theatre techniques, earning a national and international reputation within five years of its founding and, the authors argue, meriting a permanent place in the history of the alternative theatre movement in Canada.Les débuts du théâtre alternatif à Victoria sont le plus souvent associés au mandat de Don Shipley au Belfry Theatre (1975-80), mais on peut soutenir que c’est grâce à Liz Gorrie et à la compagnie Kaleidoscope, un théâtre jeune public, que ce mouvement a vu ses débuts dans la capitale provinciale. À compter de 1974 et pendant les deux décennies au cours desquelles Gorrie a assuré la direction artistique de la compagnie, les visées et les pratiques de Kaleidoscope étaient aussi radicales sur les plans politique et esthétique que celles des compagnies mieux connues des années 1970 telles que le Tarragon, le Tamahnous, Passe Muraille, et le Toronto Free Theatre. Non seulement on créait à Kaleidoscope des spectacles dignes d’être comparés au théâtre alternatif pour adultes de l’époque, mais la vision théâtrale de Liz Gorrie et le grand respect qu’elle vouait à son jeune public ont permis à la compagnie de mettre au point un style de théâtre jeune public qui a « changé à jamais le théâtre pour enfants au Canada et dans le monde » (McLauchlin « Interview », traduction libre). Pour saisir à quel point la contribution de Kaleidoscope au théâtre alternatif canadien a été importante, il faut examiner les divers moyens par lesquels la compagnie a acquis sa renommée comme théâtre alternatif, et ce, tout en s’adressant à un jeune public. Dans cette étude, Jennifer Wise et Lauren Jerke se penchent d’abord sur la genèse du Kaleidoscope depuis ses débuts comme alternative progressiste au théâtre régional conventionnel de Victoria, pour ensuite examiner son répertoire local et ses créations collectives, ses objectifs grotowskiens et brechtiens, son esthétique asiatique et anti-illusionniste et son recours aux masques, aux marionnettes, aux transformations et à l’abstraction. Wise et Jerke montrent que le Kaleidoscope a employé, au cours des années 1970 et 1980, toute une panoplie de techniques associées au théâtre alternatif qui lui ont valu une renommée nationale et internationale dans les cinq années suivant sa fondation. Elles font également valoir que la compagnie s’est mérité une place permanente dans l’histoire du théâtre alternatif canadien

Outcome-based Evaluation of Preschool Storytimes: Understanding Youth Public Librarian Perceptions

Outcome-based evaluation can be used to substantiate the claims that storytimes in public libraries have positive impacts on young children related to early literacy and school readiness. This phenomenological study describes the experiences and perceptions of youth public librarians regarding outcome-based evaluation. Through a qualitative analysis of the data collected from virtual semi-structured interviews, it seeks to better understand the benefits of and challenges to implementing outcome-based evaluation for preschool storytimes in public libraries located in the Southeastern United States. The findings will increase the field’s understanding of what evaluative efforts look like in this context, with the greater purpose of using that knowledge to improve practice.Master of Science in Library Scienc

Cadmium exposure and risk of diabetes and prediabetes: A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis

Background: Cadmium exposure has been associated with increased diabetes risk in several studies, though there is still considerable debate about the magnitude and shape of the association. Objective: To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies investigating the relation between cadmium exposure and risk of type 2 diabetes and prediabetes, and to summarize data on the magnitude and shape of the association. Data source: After conducting an online literature search through October 1, 2021, we identified 42 eligible studies investigating the association between cadmium exposure and risk of diabetes and prediabetes. Study eligibility criteria: We included studies that assessed cadmium exposure through biomarker levels; examined type 2 diabetes or prediabetes among outcomes; and reported effect estimates for cadmium exposure for meta-analysis only. Study appraisal and synthesis methods: Studies were evaluated using ROBINS-E risk of bias tool. We quantitively assessed the relation between exposure and study outcomes using one-stage dose-response meta-analysis with a random effects meta-analytical model. Results: In the meta-analysis, comparing highest-versus-lowest cadmium exposure levels, summary relative risks (RRs) for type 2 diabetes were 1.24 (95% confidence interval 0.96-1.59), 1.21 (1.00-1.45), and 1.47 (1.01-2.13) for blood, urinary, and toenail matrices, respectively. Similarly, there was an increased risk of prediabetes for cadmium concentrations in both urine (RR = 1.41, 95% CI: 1.15-1.73) and blood (RR = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.16-1.63). In the dose-response meta-analysis, we observed a consistent linear positive association between cadmium exposure and diabetes risk, with RRs of 1.25 (0.90-1.72) at 2.0 µg/g of creatinine. Conversely for blood cadmium, diabetes risk appeared to increase only above 1 µg/L. Prediabetes risk increased up to approximately 2 µg/g creatinine above which it reached a plateau with RR of 1.42 (1.12-1.76) at 2 µg/g creatinine. Limitations and conclusions: This analysis provides moderate-certainty evidence for a positive association between cadmium exposure (measured in multiple matrices) and risk of both diabetes and prediabetes

Cadmium exposure and risk of prediabetes and diabetes: A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Elevated cadmium exposure has been associated with altered glucose metabolism, albeit the shape of such relation is still debated. We aimed at investigating the shape of the relation between cadmium exposure and type 2 diabetes and prediabetes. METHODS: We performed a systematic review with meta-analysis on the relation between biomarkers of cadmium exposure and disease risk. After performing an online literature search through March 15, 2021, we identified 34 eligible studies with cohort, cross-sectional and case-control design. RESULTS:In the meta-analysis comparing highest-versus-lowest cadmium exposure, there was an increased type 2 diabetes risk, with summary risk ratios (RRs) of 1.30 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.00-1.69), 1.22 (95% CI 1.00-1.50), and 1.47 (95% CI 1.01-2.13) for blood, urine, and toenail cadmium concentrations, respectively. Similarly, we found a higher prediabetes risk in subjects with higher both urine and blood cadmium concentrations with RRs of 1.41 (95% CI 1.15-1.73) and 1.38 (95% CI 1.16-1.63), respectively. In the dose-response meta-analysis, compared with no exposure, prediabetes risk increased up to approximately 2 µg Cd/g creatinine, above which it reached a plateau with RR of 1.40 (95% CI 1.12-1.76) at 2 µg Cd/g creatinine. We also detected a substantial linear positive association between diabetes risk and urinary cadmium, with RR of 1.30 (95% CI 0.92-1.84) at 2.0 µg Cd/g creatinine. Diabetes risk also appeared to increase with higher blood cadmium concentrations but only above 1 µg/L, with RR of 3.25 (95% CI 1.13-9.37) at 2 µg/L. Despite limited data, there was little indication of differences in association by study design (cohort vs. case-control or cross-sectional), method of cadmium assessment, or sex (male vs. female). CONCLUSIONS:Overall, there was consistent evidence for a positive association between cadmium exposure and both prediabetes and diabetes risk. KEYWORDS: Heavy metals, Cardiovascular diseases, Endocrine disrupting chemicals, Environmental epidemiology, Toxicolog

Dual role of selenium in health and disease

The relation between selenium and the etiology of human diseases is still partially unclear, appears to have a Janus-faced nature and is influenced by the chemical form of the element. While selenium was suggested to decrease cancer risk by observational studies and a randomized controlled trial (RCT), recent large RCTs showed no effect or even adverse effects of selenium on cancer risk, suggesting that the earliest studies were affected by exposure misclassification or unmeasured confounding. RCTs also showed no influence of selenium on cardiovascular risk and an adverse effect on diabetes risk. Conversely, RCTs indicated a beneficial effect of selenium on Keshan disease, a cardiomyopathy described in low-selenium areas in China, though the etiology of this disease is still not entirely elucidated. Selenium may also be involved in the etiology of neurological disease. This dual and intriguing activity of selenium on human health shown by epidemiologic studies is mirrored by laboratory studies. Thus, there is the need of a reassessment of what constitutes a safe intake of selenium in humans

Cadmium exposure and cardiovascular disease risk: A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis

: Exposure to toxic metals is a global public health threat. Among other adverse effects, exposure to the heavy metal cadmium has been associated with greater risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Nonetheless, the shape of the association between cadmium exposure and CVD risk is not clear. This systematic review summarizes data on the association between cadmium exposure and risk of CVD using a dose-response approach. We carried out a literature search in PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase from inception to December 30, 2023. Inclusion criteria were: studies on adult populations, assessment of cadmium exposure, risk of overall CVD and main CVD subgroups as endpoints, and observational study design (cohort, cross-sectional, or case-control). We retrieved 26 eligible studies published during 2005-2023, measuring cadmium exposure mainly in urine and whole blood. In a dose-response meta-analysis using the one-stage method within a random-effects model, we observed a positive association between cadmium exposure and risk of overall CVD. When using whole blood cadmium as a biomarker, the association with overall CVD risk was linear, yielding a risk ratio (RR) of 2.58 (95 % confidence interval-CI 1.78-3.74) at 1 μg/L. When using urinary cadmium as a biomarker, the association was linear until 0.5 μg/g creatinine (RR = 2.79, 95 % CI 1.26-6.16), after which risk plateaued. We found similar patterns of association of cadmium exposure with overall CVD mortality and risks of heart failure, coronary heart disease, and overall stroke, whereas for ischemic stroke there was a positive association with mortality only. Overall, our results suggest that cadmium exposure, whether measured in urine or whole blood, is associated with increased CVD risk, further highlighting the importance of reducing environmental pollution from this heavy metal

Meta-Analysis of Potassium Intake and the Risk of Stroke

Background-—The possibility that lifestyle factors such as diet, specifically potassium intake, may modify the risk of stroke has been suggested by several observational cohort studies, including some recent reports. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of existing studies and assessed the dose–response relation between potassium intake and stroke risk. Methods and Results-—We reviewed the observational cohort studies addressing the relation between potassium intake, and incidence or mortality of total stroke or stroke subtypes published through August 6, 2016. We carried out a meta-analysis of 16 cohort studies based on the relative risk (RR) of stroke comparing the highest versus lowest intake categories. We also plotted a pooled dose–response curve of RR of stroke according to potassium intake. Analyses were performed with and without adjustment for blood pressure. Relative to the lowest category of potassium intake, the highest category of potassium intake was associated with a 13% reduced risk of stroke (RR=0.87, 95% CI 0.80–0.94) in the blood pressure–adjusted analysis. Summary RRs tended to decrease when original estimates were unadjusted for blood pressure. Analysis for stroke subtypes yielded comparable results. In the spline analysis, the pooled RR was lowest at 90 mmol of potassium daily intake (RRs=0.78, 95% CI 0.70–0.86) in blood pressure–adjusted analysis, and 0.67 (95% CI 0.57–0.78) in unadjusted analysis. Conclusions-—Overall, this dose–response meta-analysis confirms the inverse association between potassium intake and stroke risk, with potassium intake of 90 mmol (!3500 mg)/day associated with the lowest risk of stroke

Dietary intake of acrylamide and risk of breast, endometrial and ovarian cancers: A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis

Acrylamide is a probable human carcinogen. Aside from occupational exposures and smoking, diet is the main source of exposure in humans. We performed a systematic review of the association between estimated dietary intake of acrylamide and risk of female breast, endometrial, and ovarian cancers in non-experimental studies published through February 25, 2020, and conducted a dose-response meta-analysis. We identified 18 papers covering 10 different study populations: 16 cohort and 2 case-control studies. Acrylamide intake was associated with a slightly increased risk of ovarian cancer, particularly among never-smokers. For endometrial cancer, risk was highest at intermediate levels of exposure, whereas the association was more linear and positive among never-smokers. For breast cancer, we found evidence of a null or inverse relation between exposure and risk, particularly among never-smokers and post-menopausal women. In a subgroup analysis limited to premenopausal women, breast cancer risk increased linearly with acrylamide intake starting at 20 µg/day of intake. High acrylamide intake was associated with increased risks of ovarian and endometrial cancers in a relatively linear manner, especially among never-smokers. Conversely, little association was observed between acrylamide intake and breast cancer risk, with the exception of premenopausal women

Association of Exposure to Phthalates with Endometriosis and Uterine Leiomyomata: Findings from NHANES, 1999–2004

Background: Phthalates are ubiquitous chemicals used in consumer products. Some phthalates are reproductive toxicants in experimental animals, but human data are limited. Objective: We conducted a cross-sectional study of urinary phthalate metabolite concentrations in relation to self-reported history of endometriosis and uterine leiomyomata among 1,227 women 20–54 years of age from three cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 1999–2004. Methods: We examined four phthalate metabolites: mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP), monobutyl phthalate (MBP), monoethyl phthalate (MEP), and monobenzyl phthalate (MBzP). From the last two NHANES cycles, we also examined mono(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (MEHHP) and mono(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate (MEOHP). We used logistic regression to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), adjusting for potential confounders. Results: Eighty-seven (7%) and 151 (12%) women reported diagnoses of endometriosis and leiomyomata, respectively. The ORs comparing the highest versus lowest three quartiles of urinary MBP were 1.36 (95% CI, 0.77–2.41) for endometriosis, 1.56 (95% CI, 0.93–2.61) for leiomyomata, and 1.71 (95% CI, 1.07–2.75) for both conditions combined. The corresponding ORs for MEHP were 0.44 (95% CI, 0.19–1.02) for endometriosis, 0.63 (95% CI, 0.35–1.12) for leiomyomata, and 0.59 (95% CI, 0.37–0.95) for both conditions combined. Findings for MEHHP and MEOHP agreed with findings for MEHP with respect to endometriosis only. We observed null associations for MEP and MBzP. Associations were similar when we excluded women diagnosed greater than 7 years before their NHANES evaluation. Conclusion: The positive associations for MBP and inverse associations for MEHP in relation to endometriosis and leiomyomata warrant investigation in prospective studies