Background and Aims: Chemotherapy uses agents that selectively target cancer cells but can also cause collateral damage to healthy tissues and lead to significant side effects. These toxic agents have major adverse effects on noncancerous tissues. It is therefore imperative to develop safe and efficacious alternative therapeutic strategies capable of inducing apoptosis. The aim of the present study was to evaluate in vitro how postbiotics derived from heat‐killed Lactobacillus acidophilus LA‐5 affect human prostate cancer cells.Methods: Lactobacillus acidophilus LA‐5 strain was cultured in MRS broth at a concentration of 10⁹ colony forming units (cfu) per milliliter. The activated probiotics were then heat treated at 75°C for 60 min to inactivate them and postbiotics were obtained. The inhibitory effects of heat‐killed Lactobacillus acidophilus LA‐5 on LNCaP and PC3 cells were assessed through an MTT assay. The apoptotic impact of postbiotics on the cells was validated using Hoechst 33342/propidium iodide (HO/PI) staining. Additionally, western blotting was employed to examine the expression of cytochrome‐c (cyt‐c), Bcl2, Bax, and caspase‐3–9 proteins associated with the apoptotic pathway. Additionally, the levels of antioxidant and oxidant enzymes were measured in both cell lines using established colorimetric methods and commercial kits.Results: MTT results showed that the postbiotic Lactobacillus acidophilus LA‐5 had IC50 values of 10⁷ and 10⁸ cfu/mL on LNCaP and PC3 cells, respectively. HO/PI results showed postbiotic‐induced apoptosis in both cell lines. Heat‐killed Lactobacillus acidophilus LA‐5 increased the expression of cyt‐c, caspase‐9, Bax, and caspase‐3 protein levels and decreased Bcl2 expression in LNCaP and PC3 cell lines. However, caspase‐8 was not detected. In addition, high‐dose postbiotic Lactobacillus acidophilus LA‐5 (10⁸ and 10⁹ cfu/mL) increased the activity of oxidants ROS and MDA and suppressed the activity of antioxidants GSH, SOD, and CAT.Conclusions: This study demonstrated that postbiotic Lactobacillus acidophilus LA‐5 from heat inactivation could cause apoptosis and impede the proliferation of LNCaP and PC3 prostate cancer cells in vitro.

Copper oxide (CuO NPs) nanoparticles were synthesized by green synthesis and characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy, FT-IR spectroscopy, SEM and EDX analysis. The shape of the CuO nanoparticles obtained is approximately spherical and their particle sizes range from 40 to 85 nm. According to the experimental results, two peaks at 305 and 318 nm in the 270-400 nm range in the UV-Vis absorption spectrum and one peak at 536 cm-1 in the FT-IR spectrum confirm the presence of copper oxide nanoparticles. In addition, the presence of biomolecules in aesculus hippocastanum(horse chestnut) extract on the surface of the copper oxide nanoparticles synthesized by green synthesis was determined by the peaks seen in the range of 3300 cm-1 - 1000 cm-1 in the FTIR spectrum. The images, shape and size of the copper oxide nanoparticles were determined by SEM, and the weight percent of the elements were determined by EDX. PC3 prostate cell lines were used in the study. After measuring the cytotoxic effect of the agents used in the study on prostate cancer cells, the apoptotic effect of this effect was determined by Hoechst/propidium iodide (HOPI) staining. Graphpad prism program was used to compare all parameters between groups, and "one-way analysis of variance" (one-way ANOVA) method and dunnet's test were applied to test whether there was any difference between at least two groups. It has been determined that the drug obtained from copper oxide nanoparticles has a cytotoxic effect on PC3 prostate cancer cells and this effect occurs through the apoptosis pathway.

This study examines the antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anticancer properties of methanol, chloroform, and n-hexane extracts from Rhynchostegium megapolitanum, a moss species collected in Aydın, Türkiye. Total phenolic, flavonoid, and tannin contents were quantified. Antioxidant activity was evaluated using DPPH and ABTS assays, yielding 76.0%, 71.4% and 7.93% DPPH and 59.1%, 21.3% and 4.44% ABTS radical scavenging activities for methanol, chloroform and hexane extracts, respectively. Antimicrobial activity was tested against 17 bacteria and 4 yeasts, showing significant efficacy, particularly against Gram-positive bacteria. Methanol extracts of R. megapolitanum exhibited notable antibacterial effects. Anticancer activity was evaluated on PC-3 and MCF-7 cancer cell lines. Cytotoxicity was assessed using Hoechst/PI double staining, and paclitaxel (1 µM) served as a positive control. The extracts, in apoptosis mechanism demonstrated concentration-dependent antiproliferative effects (5–40 µM), supporting their potential as natural therapeutic agents in cancer research.

With the effect of developing technology, humanity is constantly exposed to more electromagnetic fields. Regional studies are gaining importance for determining the possible problems. In this study, extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field (ELF-EMF) measurements were carried out in Aydın Adnan Menderes University Central Campus in areas where university students are frequently found, at 25 randomly selected points, in the region where high voltage lines pass and around transformers, and to evaluate the awareness of university students about the ELF-EMF they are exposed to. For this purpose, the necessary magnetic field and electric field strength measurements were made and a questionnaire was applied to determine the awareness level of the students. Results were evaluated by comparing them with the ICNIRP limit values. Accordingly, it has been concluded that Aydın Adnan Menderes University Central Campus can be accepted as a relatively safe area since electromagnetic field exposure values are within the ICNIRP safe limit values. In addition, as a result of the questionnaire, it was determined that the young people were conscious to a certain extent about ELF-EMF, but they did not pay attention to protect themselves against the possible effects of ELF-EMF. It is important to make the necessary initiatives in order to raise awareness of young people on this issue.