Special investigation of Iowa Association of Skills USA-VICA, for the period September 1, 2001 through September 30, 2008

Special investigation of Iowa Association of Skills USA-VICA, for the period September 1, 2001 through September 30, 2008

Gene-Age Interactions in Blood Pressure Regulation: A Large-Scale Investigation with the CHARGE, Global BPgen, and ICBP Consortia.

Although age-dependent effects on blood pressure (BP) have been reported, they have not been systematically investigated in large-scale genome-wide association studies (GWASs). We leveraged the infrastructure of three well-established consortia (CHARGE, GBPgen, and ICBP) and a nonstandard approach (age stratification and metaregression) to conduct a genome-wide search of common variants with age-dependent effects on systolic (SBP), diastolic (DBP), mean arterial (MAP), and pulse (PP) pressure. In a two-staged design using 99,241 individuals of European ancestry, we identified 20 genome-wide significant (p ≤ 5 × 10(-8)) loci by using joint tests of the SNP main effect and SNP-age interaction. Nine of the significant loci demonstrated nominal evidence of age-dependent effects on BP by tests of the interactions alone. Index SNPs in the EHBP1L1 (DBP and MAP), CASZ1 (SBP and MAP), and GOSR2 (PP) loci exhibited the largest age interactions, with opposite directions of effect in the young versus the old. The changes in the genetic effects over time were small but nonnegligible (up to 1.58 mm Hg over 60 years). The EHBP1L1 locus was discovered through gene-age interactions only in whites but had DBP main effects replicated (p = 8.3 × 10(-4)) in 8,682 Asians from Singapore, indicating potential interethnic heterogeneity. A secondary analysis revealed 22 loci with evidence of age-specific effects (e.g., only in 20 to 29-year-olds). Age can be used to select samples with larger genetic effect sizes and more homogenous phenotypes, which may increase statistical power. Age-dependent effects identified through novel statistical approaches can provide insight into the biology and temporal regulation underlying BP associations.

Paper 4: EUROCAT statistical monitoring: identification and investigation of ten year trends of congenital anomalies in Europe.

BACKGROUND: As part of EUROCAT's surveillance of congenital anomalies in Europe, a statistical monitoring system has been developed to detect recent clusters or long-term (10 year) time trends. The purpose of this article is to describe the system for the identification and investigation of 10-year time trends, conceived as a "screening" tool ultimately leading to the identification of trends which may be due to changing teratogenic factors.METHODS: The EUROCAT database consists of all cases of congenital anomalies including livebirths, fetal deaths from 20 weeks gestational age, and terminations of pregnancy for fetal anomaly. Monitoring of 10-year trends is performed for each registry for each of 96 non-independent EUROCAT congenital anomaly subgroups, while Pan-Europe analysis combines data from all registries. The monitoring results are reviewed, prioritized according to a prioritization strategy, and communicated to registries for investigation. Twenty-one registries covering over 4 million births, from 1999 to 2008, were included in monitoring in 2010.CONCLUSIONS: Significant increasing trends were detected for abdominal wall anomalies, gastroschisis, hypospadias, Trisomy 18 and renal dysplasia in the Pan-Europe analysis while 68 increasing trends were identified in individual registries. A decreasing trend was detected in over one-third of anomaly subgroups in the Pan-Europe analysis, and 16.9% of individual registry tests. Registry preliminary investigations indicated that many trends are due to changes in data quality, ascertainment, screening, or diagnostic methods. Some trends are inevitably chance phenomena related to multiple testing, while others seem to represent real and continuing change needing further investigation and response by regional/national public health authorities.

Report on a special investigation of the Keokuk County Sheriff’s Office for the period July 1, 2006 through April 15, 2009

Report on a special investigation of the Keokuk County Sheriff’s Office for the period July 1, 2006 through April 15, 2009

Special investigation of the City of Truro for the period January 1, 2003 through February 18, 2009

Special investigation of the City of Truro for the period January 1, 2003 through February 18, 2009

Report on a special investigation of the City of Crawfordsville for the period July 1, 1999 through February 28, 2009

Report on a special investigation of the City of Crawfordsville for the period July 1, 1999 through February 28, 2009

Report on a special investigation of Oran Township in Fayette County for the period January 1, 2003 through September 22, 2009

Report on a special investigation of Oran Township in Fayette County for the period January 1, 2003 through September 22, 2009

Report on a special investigation of the Rodman Volunteer Fire Department and Park and Recreation Department for the period January 1, 2006 through September 30, 2009

Report on a special investigation of the Rodman Volunteer Fire Department and Park and Recreation Department for the period January 1, 2006 through September 30, 2009

Report on a special investigation of the City of New Albin for the period January 1, 2006 through July 31, 2009

Report on a special investigation of the City of New Albin for the period January 1, 2006 through July 31, 2009

Audit report on the Black Hawk County Criminal Justice Information System for the year ended June 30, 2009

Audit report on the Black Hawk County Criminal Justice Information System for the year ended June 30, 2009

Report on a special investigation of the Cedar Rapids Community School District for the period July 1, 2002 through August 24, 2009

Report on a special investigation of the Cedar Rapids Community School District for the period July 1, 2002 through August 24, 2009

Report on a special investigation of certain collections of the Tama County Clerk of Court and the Tama County Sheriff’s Office for the period January 1, 2007 through August 31, 2009

Report on a special investigation of certain collections of the Tama County Clerk of Court and the Tama County Sheriff’s Office for the period January 1, 2007 through August 31, 2009

Report on a special investigation of Squaw Township for the period April 19, 2001 through March 18, 2009

Report on a special investigation of Squaw Township for the period April 19, 2001 through March 18, 2009

Whose Interest Is Being Served? An Investigation of a Walker City Council Member’s Conflict of Interest, April 15, 2010

The Ombudsman received a complaint concerning Bill Smith, a city council member who is also the Walker Fire Department Chief. The complainant stated that Mr. Smith votes regularly as a city council member on matters before the Walker City Council (Council) pertaining to the Walker Fire Department. These actions were alleged to be conflicts of interest in violation of Iowa law.

Special investigation of the City of Collins Library for the period July 1, 2007 through July 30, 2009

Special investigation of the City of Collins Library for the period July 1, 2007 through July 30, 2009