RECRUITING

Impact of Reading on Endogenous Oxytocin System of Preterm Infants

Study Overview

This clinical trial focuses on testing the efficacy of different digital interventions to promote re-engagement in cancer-related long-term follow-up care for adolescent and young adult (AYA) survivors of childhood cancer.

Description

The purpose of this study is to learn how early language exposure may be related to changes in DNA in parents and their premature infants. While a person's genetic code is determined at the time of conception, the way that some genes are expressed in the body can be changed even after an individual is born. These changes are called epigenetic changes. In this study, the investigators want to learn about the epigenetic changes that happen after a premature baby is born and whether a parent's interaction with their baby can influence these epigenetic changes. The investigators will look at epigenetic changes by collecting saliva samples from parents and their preterm babies, here defined as babies born at \<33 weeks gestation. Specifically, the investigators will be looking at salivary levels of DNA methylation of the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTRm). The investigators will track changes in OXTRm levels over time in parents and their babies and see if these levels change in relation to how much time parents spend with their babies and how much time they spend reading to their babies. The investigators will ask mothers and, if desired, their partners to read to their babies for at least 15 minutes per week. The investigators will ask them to track time spent with the baby and reading time on a log, and will also measure word count with a commercially-available LENA device. The investigators will use logistic regression analysis to identify the independent association between OXTR DNA methylation and time spent with parent(s) and word count.

Official Title

Impact of Reading on Endogenous Oxytocin System of Preterm Infants

Quick Facts

Study Start:2022-09-23
Study Completion:2024-04
Study Type:Not specified
Phase:Not Applicable
Enrollment:Not specified
Status:RECRUITING

Study ID

NCT05412524

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Ages Eligible for Study:Not specified to 33 Weeks
Sexes Eligible for Study:ALL
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:No
Standard Ages:CHILD
Inclusion CriteriaExclusion Criteria
  1. * Infants \<33 week gestational age at birth
  2. * Mother must be able to visit at least once per week
  3. * Mother or primary caregiver must participate; father or secondary caregiver may participate as well
  4. * Mother must commit to minimum of 15 minutes reading at least once per week
  1. * Infant with life-limiting conditions
  2. * Mother is non-English speaking
  3. * Illiteracy of mother

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations (Sites)

University of Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia, 22903
United States

Collaborators and Investigators

Sponsor: University of Virginia

Study Record Dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Registration Dates

Study Start Date2022-09-23
Study Completion Date2024-04

Study Record Updates

Study Start Date2022-09-23
Study Completion Date2024-04

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

  • Premature Infant Disease
  • Development, Infant