"Weathering the storm:" Mothers' and fathers' experiences of parenting a preterm infant.

Parenting preterm infants is a unique experience distinct from parenting full-term infants, characterized by a delayed transition to parenthood and limited caregiving opportunities. This study explored mothers' and fathers' lived experiences of parenting during infancy in the context of preterm birth. Semistructured qualitative interviews were conducted with 13 parents (6 fathers, 7 mothers) of preterm infants. Data were analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Four superordinate themes emerged: (a) An unnatural disaster: The traumatic nature of preterm birth, (b) The immediate aftermath: Disconnected and displaced, (c) Breaking the ice: Moving from frozen to melted, and (d) Aftershocks: Transitioning home. Both parents experienced preterm birth as traumatic. Similarities and differences in mothers' and fathers' experiences were identified. Preterm birth posed challenges for nurturant and social caregiving and resulted in anxiety, hypervigilance, and overprotective parenting behavior. The results highlight the need for trauma-informed care and further research developing and testing empirically based interventions.

Criar a infantes nacidos prematuramente es una experiencia única, distinta de criar a infantes nacidos a los nueve meses, caracterizada por una transición retrasada al hecho de ser padres y por oportunidades limitadas de prestación de cuidados. Este estudio exploró las experiencias de crianza vividas por las mamás y los papás durante la infancia dentro del contexto del nacimiento prematuro. Se llevaron a cabo entrevistas cualitativas semiestructuradas con 13 progenitores (6 papás, 7 mamás) de infantes nacidos prematuramente. Se analizó la información usando el Análisis Fenomenológico Interpretativo. Surgieron cuatro temas superiores: (i) Un desastre no natural: La naturaleza traumática del nacimiento prematuro; (ii) Las consecuencias inmediatas: Desconectados y desplazados; (iii) El rompimiento del hielo: Pasar de estar congelado a derretirse; y (iv) La conmoción posterior: En transición a casa. Ambos padres experimentaron el nacimiento prematuro como traumático. Se identificaron las similitudes y las diferencias en las experiencias de las mamás y de los papás. El nacimiento prematuro presentó retos para el cuidado de crianza y social y resultó en ansiedad, excesiva vigilancia y conducta de crianza sobreprotectora. Los resultados subrayan la necesidad de un cuidado fundamentado en la comprensión del trauma y de una investigación futura que desarrolle y examine las intervenciones con base empírica.

Le parentage de nourrissons prématurés est une expérience unique distincte du parentage de nourrissons à terme, caractérisée par une transition retardée au parentage et par des opportunités de prendre soin du bébé limitées. Cette étude a exploré les expériences vécues de parentage des mères et des pères durant la petite enfance dans le contexte d'une naissance prématurée. Des entretiens qualitatifs semi-structurés ont été faits avec 13 parents (6 pères, 7 mères) de nourrissons prématurés. Les données ont été analysées en utilisant l'Analyse Interprétative Phénoménologique. Quatre thèmes sur-ordonnés ont émergé : (i) Un désastre contre nature : la nature traumatique de la naissance prématurée, (ii) Le lendemain immédiat : déconnecté et déplacés, (iii) La glace brisée : de l'état de glace au dégel, et (iv) Les secousses secondaires : la transition au domicile. Les deux parents ont fait l'expérience de la naissance prématurée comme étant traumatique. Les similarités et les différences dans les expériences des mères et des pères ont été identifiées. La naissance prématurée s'est avérée difficile pour les soins nourriciers et sociaux et a résulté en anxiété, hypervigilance et en comportement de parentage surprotecteur. Les résultats de l'étude mettent en valeur le besoin de soin tenant en compte le trauma et de procéder à des recherches plus approfondies sur le développement et le test d'interventions basées sur des faits empiriques.

Genome-wide maps of chromatin state in pluripotent and lineage-committed cells.

We report the application of single-molecule-based sequencing technology for high-throughput profiling of histone modifications in mammalian cells. By obtaining over four billion bases of sequence from chromatin immunoprecipitated DNA, we generated genome-wide chromatin-state maps of mouse embryonic stem cells, neural progenitor cells and embryonic fibroblasts. We find that lysine 4 and lysine 27 trimethylation effectively discriminates genes that are expressed, poised for expression, or stably repressed, and therefore reflect cell state and lineage potential. Lysine 36 trimethylation marks primary coding and non-coding transcripts, facilitating gene annotation. Trimethylation of lysine 9 and lysine 20 is detected at satellite, telomeric and active long-terminal repeats, and can spread into proximal unique sequences. Lysine 4 and lysine 9 trimethylation marks imprinting control regions. Finally, we show that chromatin state can be read in an allele-specific manner by using single nucleotide polymorphisms. This study provides a framework for the application of comprehensive chromatin profiling towards characterization of diverse mammalian cell populations.

Molecular regulation of H3K4 trimethylation by ASH2L, a shared subunit of MLL complexes.

MLL complexes are homologs of yeast COMPASS capable of methylating histone H3 Lys4 (H3K4). ASH2L, RbBP5 and WDR5 are conserved subunits of MLL complexes with homology to the Cps40/Cps60, Cps50 and Cps30 subunits of COMPASS, respectively. We report that ASH2L differentially regulates MLL's catalysis of H3K4 trimethylation similarly to Cps40 and Cps60. Furthermore, WDR5 is required to maintain MLL complex integrity, including the stability of ASH2L within the complex. These findings offer insight into the molecular role of ASH2L, and by extension that of WDR5, in proper H3K4 trimethylation.

Genome-wide analysis of histone modifications by ChIP-on-chip.

Post-translational modifications to histone proteins regulate the packaging of genomic DNA into chromatin, gene activity and other functions of the genome. They are understood to play key roles in embryonic development and disease pathogenesis. Recent advances in technology have made it possible to analyze chromatin structure genome-wide in mammalian cells. Global patterns of histone modifications can be observed using a technique called ChIP-on-chip, which combines the specificity of chromatin immunoprecipitation with the unbiased, high-throughput capabilities of microarrays. The resulting maps provide insight into the functions of, and relationships between, different modifications. Here, we provide validated ChIP-on-chip methods for analyzing histone modification patterns at genome-scale in mammalian cells.