en تخصصي Special كاربردي Applicable <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style="line-height:14.0pt"><b><span style="color:#24a3a0">Context:</span></b> The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) environment exposes newborns, particularly preterm and Very Low Birth Weight (VLBW) infants, to stressors such as mechanical ventilation, artificial lighting, and nutritional challenges, potentially inducing epigenetic modifications like Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) methylation and histone alterations. These changes may impact long-term neurodevelopmental and metabolic outcomes.</span><br> <span style="line-height:14.0pt"><b><span style="color:#24a3a0">Evidence Acquisition:</span></b> This review searched Scopus, Google Scholar, and PubMed using keywords &ldquo;epigenetic modifications,&rdquo; &ldquo;NICU,&rdquo; &ldquo;newborn,&rdquo; &ldquo;DNA methylation,&rdquo; and &ldquo;preterm infant.&rdquo; No time limits were applied, and only English-language full-text articles were included. Additional terms like &ldquo;VLBW infants&rdquo; were used to expand results.</span><br> <span style="line-height:14.0pt"><b><span style="color:#24a3a0">Findings:</span></b> NICU stressors, including hypoxia and nutritional deficits, were linked to DNA methylation and histone modifications in genes tied to neurodevelopment and immunity in preterm infants. Interventions like optimized nutrition and stress reduction showed potential to mitigate these epigenetic changes.</span><br> <span style="line-height:14.0pt"><b><span style="color:#24a3a0">Conclusion:</span></b> NICU environments induce epigenetic modifications, affecting newborn health. Advanced technologies, such as CRISPR-based epigenome editing and single-cell epigenomics, alongside tailored interventions, may reduce adverse outcomes. Further research is needed to standardize protocols and assess long-term effects.</span></span></span></p> DNA Methylation, Epigenetic Modifications, Histone Modification, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Newborns, Preterm Infants, Very Low Birth Weight 0 0 http://caspianjp.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-273-6&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Rakesh Kotha dr.rakeshkoyha@gmail.com 10031947532846005279 10031947532846005279 Yes Professor of Neonatology, Department of Neonatology, Niloufer Hospital, Hyderabd, India