Conference and Journal Citations

TEDx Talk on the Epigenetic Origins of Chronic Disease

The Epidemic of Chronic Disease and Understanding Epigenetics

Ken Thornburg

TEDxPortland

“When will we decide to conquer chronic disease? The moment we realize the future’s not only in our genes but also in our hands with the choices we make regarding food and nutrition. We now know how we grow before we are born, matters. A woman who is pregnant with a daughter is nourishing the egg that may someday become her grandchild. We must remove the vulnerability for developing chronic disease before it starts. Through the right choices in Family, School, Workplace & Policy – we can position humanity towards a sustainable, more livable answer. Dr. Kent L. Thornburg received his PhD in Developmental Physiology and studied Cardiovascular Physiology as a National Institutes of Health (NIH) Postdoctoral Fellow at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU). He participates in co-funded projects with scientists in England, New Zealand, France, Finland and Australia. He serves regularly on advisory panels at the NIH, the American Heart Association and the Children’s Heart Foundation and recently served as Co-Chair of the task force to determine the 10-year vision of the developmental origins of health and disease for the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.”
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx.

Peer-Reviewed Article on Unified Protocols for Cardiometabolic Care at BCBS Louisiana

Evaluation of the Quality Blue Primary Care Program on Health Outcomes

Am J Manag Care. 2017 Dec 1;23(12):e402-e408.

PMID: 29261245 Free Article

The program was associated with a shift in primary care delivery and reductions in overall cost.

Savings versus the control group were $27.09 per member per month (PMPM). (P ≤.001).

Cost savings were derived largely from a decrease in hospitalizations—a difference of $18.85 PMPM (P = .0023).

Additional savings were associated with shifts in healthcare utilization by the intervention group toward proactive management, including increased primary care visits (P = .0106) and screening for diabetes (P = .0019).

Inpatient admissions also decreased, most significantly among those with chronic conditions (P <.05).

The ADMA-metformin hypothesis: linking the cardiovascular consequences of the metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes

Cardiorenal Med. 2011;1(4):211-219. Epub 2011 Oct 4.

PMID: 22135630 Free PMC Article

Excess saturated fats and glucose may initiate methylation of arginine residues in proteins involved in transcription of genes mediating inflammation, cell proliferation, apoptosis, and oncogenesis.

Retrospective analysis and patient satisfaction assessment of insulin pump therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Gentry CK, Cross LB, Gross BN, McFarland MS, Bestermann WH.

South Med J. 2011 Jan;104(1):24-8. doi: 10.1097/SMJ.0b013e3181fa7230.

PMID: 21079529

Incorporating practical lifestyle management for obesity.

Bestermann WH Jr.

J Fam Pract. 2010 May;59(5 Suppl):S3-8. No abstract available.

PMID: 20544055

The use of a single-pill calcium channel blocker/statin combination in the management of hypertension and dyslipidemia: a randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter study.

Neutel JM, Bestermann WH, Dyess EM, Graff A, Kursun A, Sutradhar S, Yunis C.

J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich). 2009 Jan;11(1):22-30. doi: 10.1111/j.1751-7176.2008.00058.x.

PMID: 19125855 Free Article