Spontaneous resolution of urinary calculi in a congenital solitary kidney: A case report

Spontaneous resolution of a large renal stone burden in adults is a rare occurrence with few reports in the last 50 years. Improved imaging techniques and understanding of the pharmacology of dissolution therapy have led to a better understanding of which stones have the potential for spontaneous passage or targeted dissolution via medical treatment. Less is known regarding stone outcomes in children, and anecdotes of pediatric patients spontaneously passing large stones has been widely propagated. Here we report a case of spontaneous resolution of a large renal stone burden in a child with a congenital solitary kidney

Preparing for a Bsal invasion into North America has improved multi-sector readiness

Western palearctic salamander susceptibility to the skin disease caused by the amphibian chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal) was recognized in 2014, eliciting concerns for a potential novel wave of amphibian declines following the B. dendrobatidis (Bd) chytridiomycosis global pandemic. Although Bsal had not been detected in North America, initial experimental trials supported the heightened susceptibility of caudate amphibians to Bsal chytridiomycosis, recognizing the critical threat this pathogen poses to the North American salamander biodiversity hotspot. Here, we take stock of 10 years of research, collaboration, engagement, and outreach by the North American Bsal Task Force. We summarize main knowledge and conservation actions to both forestall and respond to Bsal invasion into North America. We address the questions: what have we learned; what are current challenges; and are we ready for a more effective reaction to Bsal’s eventual detection? We expect that the many contributions to preemptive planning accrued over the past decade will pay dividends in amphibian conservation effectiveness and can inform future responses to other novel wildlife diseases and extreme threats

Cross-classification results from each model.

<p>Prob level = value of the cutoff of the probability of observing presence used to classify each prediction into either an event (presence) or non-event (absence). Correct = number of events and non-events properly classified when comparing predicted to observed. Incorrect = number of non-events improperly classified as events and vice versa. Percentages Correct: overall percentage of observations correctly classified. Sensitivity: percentage of actual events correctly identified as such and is complementary to the false negative rate. Specificity: percentage of non-events which are correctly identified as such and is complementary to the false positive rate. False Positive Percentage: percent of predicted event responses that were observed as nonevents. False Negative Percent: percent of predicted nonevent responses that were observed as events.</p

Explanatory variables in the final model for each combination of taxonomic group and region (ILP = Interior Low Plateau, App = Appalachians Mounntains).

<p>Explanatory variables in the final model for each combination of taxonomic group and region (ILP = Interior Low Plateau, App = Appalachians Mounntains).</p

Maps of observed and predicted distribution of troglobiotic amphipods (largely the genera <i>Stygobromus</i> and <i>Crangonyx</i>) in the study area.

<p>A. Observed distribution of troglobiotic amphipods in 20 x 20 km grid. B. Predicted probabilities of occurrence of troglobiotic amphipods in those grid cells that have observed troglobionts. C. Predicted probabilities of occurrence of troglobiotic amphipods in all grid cells with karst. See <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0160408#pone.0160408.t002" target="_blank">Table 2</a> for details of the model and <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0160408#pone.0160408.t003" target="_blank">Table 3</a> for goodness of fit.</p

Factor loadings of soil characteristics in the 20 X 20 km grid for the study of the first three principle components.

<p>Factor loadings of soil characteristics in the 20 X 20 km grid for the study of the first three principle components.</p

Frequency of occupancy of different groups in cells with at least one troglobiotic species.

<p>Values for the Interior Low Plateau are shown in blue, and values for the Appalachian Mountains are shown in red.</p

Map of study area.

<p>Areas of karst are shaded and overlain by a 20 x 20 km grid, with karst grid cells in the Appalachian Mountains and in the Interior Low Plateau outlined in green. Black dots show caves with known troglobionts. Adapted from [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0160408#pone.0160408.ref031" target="_blank">31</a>].</p