Author Guidelines

Kidneys is an international Gold Open Access, peer-reviewed journal publishing research in nephrology, kidney transplantation, urology, and related areas. All articles are freely accessible immediately upon publication. Submission of a manuscript indicates the authors’ acceptance of the journal’s Article Processing Charge (APC) policy.

The journal follows the recommendations of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), WAME, and reporting guidelines from the EQUATOR Network.

1. Manuscript Preparation

1.1. File Format

  • Submit manuscripts in Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx).

  • Use Times New Roman, 12 pt, line spacing 1.5, and 2.5 cm margins on all sides.

  • Do not underline text; use italics where necessary.

  • Remove unnecessary spaces and line breaks.

1.2. Article Types & Length

  • Original research articles: up to 5,000 words

  • Reviews: up to 6,000–8,000 words

  • Systematic reviews/meta-analyses: up to 8,000 words

  • Case reports: up to 3,000 words

  • Commentaries / Letters: up to 1,000–1,500 words

1.3. Language

The journal accepts manuscripts in English. Authors are responsible for language accuracy. Poor-quality English may result in rejection.

1.4. Submission Process

All manuscripts must be submitted through the journal’s online submission system.
Upload the following as separate files:

  • Manuscript

  • Figures (JPG/TIFF, min. 300 dpi)

  • Tables

  • Cover letter

  • Ethics approval documents (if applicable)

2. Manuscript Structure

The manuscript must include the following sections:

2.1. Title Page

Provide:

  • Full article title

  • Full names of all authors

  • Institutional affiliations (one per author)

  • Corresponding author details: name, institution, address, email, phone

  • ORCID IDs for all authors (required)

2.2. Abstract

  • Structured abstract, 200–250 words

  • Must include: Background, Methods, Results, Conclusions

  • Avoid generalities; include precise, relevant information

  • For reviews: unstructured abstract (200–250 words)

2.3. Keywords

Provide 3–6 keywords, separated by semicolons.

2.4. Main Text

Original Articles must follow IMRAD:

Introduction

  • Explain global relevance

  • Brief literature overview

  • Clearly state study aim/objective

  • Include recent international references

  • Avoid overly local focus

Materials and Methods

Mandatory elements:

  • Study design

  • Setting, population, sample size

  • Inclusion/exclusion criteria

  • Interventions, procedures

  • Statistical methods

  • Software used

  • Ethical approval

  • Informed consent (if required)

Studies involving humans or animals must include:

  • Name of ethics committee

  • Approval number/date

  • Statement on adherence to the Helsinki Declaration

Results

  • Clear, concise, logical presentation

  • Use tables/figures where appropriate

  • Avoid repeating the same data in text and tables

  • Report confidence intervals and exact p-values

  • No interpretation in this section

Discussion

  • Compare findings with recent scientific literature

  • Explain significance and limitations

  • Relate back to the study objectives

  • Avoid repeating results

Conclusions

  • Short, clear, directly linked to objectives

  • Should not repeat abstract wording

2.5. Tables

  • Number consecutively (Table 1, Table 2…)

  • Provide a clear title and footnotes

  • Do not duplicate results already shown in figures

  • Avoid vertical and unnecessary horizontal lines

2.6. Figures

  • Number consecutively (Fig. 1, Fig. 2…)

  • Upload separate image files, 300 dpi minimum

  • Captions must explain all abbreviations

  • Patient images require documented written informed consent

If reproducing previously published materials, authors must obtain copyright permission.

2.7. Additional Information

Placed before References:

  • Conflict of Interest Statement (mandatory)

  • Funding Statement (list grant numbers and funders)

  • Acknowledgments

  • Author Contributions (using CRediT or descriptive roles)

2.8. References

Follow Vancouver (NLM) style.

  • Number references in order of appearance in the text

  • Use recent sources (preferably from the last 5–7 years)

  • Avoid excessive self-citation

  • Conference abstracts, lecture notes, and unpublished materials should be minimized

  • Provide DOIs wherever available

Examples of referencing should be provided on a separate Reference List Guidelines page.

3. Ethical Considerations

The journal follows COPE and ICMJE ethical principles.
See the journal’s full policies on:

  • Publication Ethics

  • Corrections and Retractions Policy

  • Informed Consent, Privacy, and Confidentiality Policy

4. Plagiarism

All submissions are checked using plagiarism-detection software.
Manuscripts with significant overlap may be rejected.

5. Reporting Guidelines (EQUATOR Network)

Authors must follow appropriate reporting standards:

  • CONSORT – randomized trials

  • STROBE – observational studies

  • CARE – case reports

  • PRISMA – systematic reviews/meta-analyses

 

6. Copyright, Licensing, and Open Access

All articles are published under a Creative Commons license (CC BY recommended).

Authors retain copyright while granting the journal the right to publish the work.

7. Article Processing Charges (APC)

The journal applies an APC to support editorial, peer-review, and production costs.
APC information must be available on the APC Policy page.

8. Appeals & Complaints

Authors may appeal editorial decisions following the procedure outlined in the journal’s Appeals and Complaints Policy.