Unpacking the relationship between technological conflicts, dissatisfaction, and social media discontinuance intention: An integrated theoretical perspective.

Previous research has largely overlooked the examination of the association between family, work, and personal (FWP) conflict, user dissatisfaction, and subsequent discontinuation intention in the context of social networking sites (SNS). Addressing this research gap, the present study aims to present an integrated theoretical perspective that combines Expectancy Disconfirmation Theory (EDT) and Merton's functions. By doing so, we seek to provide a comprehensive understanding of the factors influencing SNS withdrawal behavior. To achieve this objective, data were collected from 360 SNS users using a time-lag method across three waves, and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was employed for data analysis. The findings of our study reveal that all three disconfirmation-based factors (i.e., FWP conflicts) positively contribute to SNS user dissatisfaction, which subsequently leads to users' intention to discontinue their SNS usage. Additionally, we explored the moderating role of Merton's functions, specifically manifest and latent functions, in influencing users' decisions to discontinue SNS use. The results indicate that the manifest functions of social media weaken the relationship between dissatisfaction and discontinuation intention, whereas the latent functions do not exhibit a significant interaction effect. By proposing a dual theoretically integrated mechanism of SNS discontinuation intention, study contributes to the existing literature in the field of information systems. Furthermore, our findings provide valuable insights for managers regarding the timing and manner in which social media FWP conflicts can lead to user dissatisfaction. This knowledge can assist in the development of effective strategies aimed at retaining users in SNS and enhancing their overall user experience.

Impact of NF-κB pathway on the apoptosis-inflammation-autophagy crosstalk in human degenerative nucleus pulposus cells.

The NF-κB pathway has been reported to play a very important role in the process of intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD). Our results demonstrated that knockdown of NF-κB with P65-siRNA can significantly decrease cell apoptosis and the expression of pro-inflammation factors TNF-α and IL-1ß in LPS-induced nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs). However, the molecular mechanism of NF-κB pathway exerting anti-inflammation and anti-apoptosis function remains unclear. Some researchers reported that inhibiting NF-κB pathway can attenuate the catabolic effect by promoting autophagy during inflammatory conditions in rat nucleus pulposus cells. Therefore, we hypothesized that in human NPCs, inhibiting NF-κB pathway may also promote autophagy. Our results indicated that after knockdown of NF-κB, the autophagy was significantly increased and the expression of p-AKT and p-mTOR protein markedly decreased, but the level of autophagy was inhibited after treatment with AKT activator SC79, suggesting the involvement of AKT/mTOR-mediated autophagy was under autophagy activation. However, both LPS-induced NPCs apoptosis and expression of pro-inflammation factors were further increased by pretreatment with the autophagy inhibitor chloroquine (CQ). These suggested that inhibiting NF-κB pathway can promote autophagy and decrease apoptosis and inflammation response in LPS-induced NPCs. Meanwhile, autophagy triggered by NF-κB inhibition plays a protective role against apoptosis and inflammation.

Tumor Location and Survival Outcomes in Adult Patients with Supratentorial Glioblastoma by Levels of Toll-Like Receptor 9 Expression.

BACKGROUND: Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) is a key immunotherapy target for glioblastoma (GBM). This study explored the correlation of TLR9 expression with tumor location and survival outcomes in patients with supratentorial GBM. METHODS: We retrospectively identified 46 patients with supratentorial GBMs and divided them into those with high TLR9 (TRL9High) and low TLR9 (TRL9Low) levels. The 2 groups were compared by patients' ages, sex, preoperative Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS) score, resection extent, tumor location, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS). RESULTS: The TLR9 expression percentages for the GBM specimens were TRL9High: 72% (33/46) and TRL9Low: 28% (13/46). The 2 groups showed no differences in patient age (P = 0.147) and sex (χ2 = 0.002, P = 0.966), preoperative KPS score (χ2 = 0.033, P = 0.855), or resection extent (χ2 = 2.405, P = 0.121). Location differed significantly, with 85% (11/13) of TRL9Low tumors in the left hemisphere and 45% (15/33) of TRL9High tumors on the same side (χ2 = 5.82, P = 0.016). The TRL9Low group had a median PFS of 612 days (range, 77-926 days), significantly longer than the TRL9High group (355 days; range, 105-861 days; P = 0.042). Median OS of the TRL9Low group (733 days; range, 163-969 days) was also significantly longer than in the TRL9High group (396 days; range, 135-1024 days; P = 0.020). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with TRL9Low supratentorial GBM tend to have longer survival than those with higher TLR9 expression. Such tumors show a location preference for the left hemisphere.