Changes in trace element concentrations are being wildly considered when it comes to neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. This study aims to present the role that trace elements play in the central nervous system. Moreover, we reviewed the mechanisms involved in their neurotoxicity. Low zinc concentrations, as well as high levels of copper, manganese, and iron, activate the signalling pathways of the inflammatory, oxidative and nitrosative stress response. Neurodegeneration occurs due to the association between metals and proteins, which is then followed by aggregate formation, mitochondrial disorder, and, ultimately, cell death. In Alzheimer’s disease, low Zn levels suppress the neurotoxicity induced by β-amyloid through the selective precipitation of aggregation intermediates. High concentrations of copper, iron and manganese cause the aggregation of intracellular α-synuclein, which results in synaptic dysfunction and axonal transport disruption. Parkinson’s disease is caused by the accumulation of Fe in the midbrain dopaminergic nucleus, and the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis derives from Zn deficiency, leading to an imbalance between T cell functions. Aluminium disturbs the homeostasis of other metals through a rise in the production of oxygen reactive forms, which then leads to cellular death. Selenium, in association with iron, plays a distinct role in the process of ferroptosis. Outlining the influence that metals have on oxidoreduction processes is crucial to recognising the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases and may provide possible new methods for both their avoidance and therapy.

Introduction and purpose: Wilms tumor, also known as nephroblastoma, is the most prevalent malignant tumor of the kidney in the pediatric population. 90% of them are diagnosed in children before the age of 6. This tumor is more common in girls, and usually occurs unilaterally. The purpose of the study is to analyse and present the incidence of the patients with Wilms tumor in University Children’s Hospital in Lublin in comparison to other studies published on PubMed. Material and methods: The study included 34 patients with the Wilms tumor in the past medical history. They were selected among patients who had a computed tomography (CT) scan in the Department of Pediatric Radiology between November 2012 and October 2021. Results: The average diagnostic age of Wilms tumor patients was 3 years and 9 months. The unilateral occurrence of the tumor was more common, also, the presence of a tumor in the left kidney was more frequent than in the right one. Metastases were mainly located in the lungs and liver. The less common sites of metastasis were pleural recesses and paraaortic lymph nodes. Treatment was mostly based on nephrectomy and chemotherapy, and less frequently, on radiotherapy. In the majority of patients, treatment resulted in regression of cancer lesions. Only a few recurrences of the disease were reported. Conclusions: Successful treatment protocols for Wilms tumor (pre-operative chemotherapy and surgery) ensure a high survival rate. It is important to monitor the patient after treatment due to the risk of recurrence. During diagnostics, chest and abdominal CT should be considered because of the high incidence rate of lung and liver metastases.