Editorial on the first issue of Urolithiasis

Abstract

For the past 9 years, ‘‘Urological Research’’ has been the only international, peer-reviewed journal publishing papers solely on the topic of urolithiasis and its related areas of research. In order to reflect this unique feature of the journal more clearly in future, the Editorial Board and the publishers have decided that, as from 1st January 2013, the name of the journal will be changed to ‘‘Urolithiasis’’. Any aspect of renal stone-formation will be considered for publication including diagnosis, epidemiology, environmental studies, nutrition, ion transport, micropuncture studies, pathogenesis, chemistry of crystallisation, genetics, inborn errors of metabolism, molecular and cell biology, clinical biochemistry, endourology, stone removal techniques, medical management and preventative therapy. The Editor continues to welcome contributions on any of the above topics within the field of urolithiasis that are of interest to urologists, nephrologists, radiologists, clinical biochemists, epidemiologists, nutritionists, basic scientists and nurses working in that field. Contributions may be submitted as full-length articles or rapid communications in the form of Letter to the Editor. Articles should be original and should contain important new findings from carefully conducted studies designed to produce statistically significant data. It should be noted that we no longer publish articles classified as Case Reports. Editorials and review articles may be published by invitation from the Editorial Board. All submissions will continue to be peerreviewed by internationally recognised experts in the field of urinary stone disease. Finally, the Editor wishes to emphasise the following additional precepts which should be observed by intending authors. In accordance with the policy of all good-quality scientific journals, ‘‘Urolithiasis’’ supports the application of strict guidelines on plagiarism. Thus, authors should take great care not to copy sections of text or data from papers already published in the literature unless they provide necessary acknowledgment to the original authors and indicate the source of the material in the form of a reference. Unfortunately, over the past few years, plagiarism has become an increasing problem in the scientific literature as the demands on researchers to publish have increased. Authors should be aware that software now exists for detecting material copied from previously published articles. Authors must also refrain from submitting their manuscripts to more than one journal simultaneously. It is a severe breach of scientific etiquette to do so as most journals insist that authors sign a declaration when they submit their manuscript to the effect that their article is not simultaneously being considered for publication in an alternative journal. Defiance of these principles will inevitably lead to immediate rejection of the manuscript concerned and further measures may be taken against the authors concerned. The Editor and Associate Editors look forward to a new era in urolithiasis research with the publication of a journal whose name more clearly defines the topic of its contents while maintaining the scientific integrity of its predecessor. We hope that the readership of ‘‘Urolithiasis’’ will continue to enjoy the journal in this new format.