title: Current opinion in urology: new insights into nephrolithiasis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Recent studies in nephrolithiasis have investigated why stones form, improvements in medical therapy, and advances in surgical therapy. We outline recent research in these areas.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We describe a series of articles characterizing the histopathology of Randall's plaques and the renal papillae in patients with nephrolithiasis, detailing genetic discoveries related to uric acid stones, describing further uses of alpha-antagonists in nephrolithiasis, and reporting improvements in extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy technique and outcomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Characterization of the renal papillae and Randall's plaques in different types of stones may guide the urologist in treating stones and may lead to further research into how and where stones of different compositions form.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27157, USA.
authors.forename: Rahul A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Desai
authors.forename: Dean G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Assimos
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D053040:Nephrolithiasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy