Daniel Nixon

• University of Leicester

Background Kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) exhibit unique elevated inflammation, impaired immune function, and increased cardiovascular risk. Although exercise reduces cardiovascular risk, there is limited research on this population, particularly surrounding novel high-intensity interval training (HIIT). The purpose of this pilot study was to...

Kidney transplantations are seen to be a double-edge sword. Transplantations help to partially restore renal function, however there are a number of health-related co-morbidities associated with transplantation. Cardiovascular disease (CVD), malignancy and infections all limit patient and graft survival. Immunosuppressive medications alter innate a...

In chronic kidney disease (CKD), handgrip strength (HGS) is recommended as a surrogate measure of protein-energy status and functional status. However, it is not routinely used because of inconsistencies such as the optimal timing of the HGS measurement and unclear guidance regarding technique. We aimed to determine the extent of variation in the p...

Background Those living with kidney disease (KD) report extensive symptom burden. However, research into how symptoms change across stages is limited. The aims of this study were to 1) describe symptom burden across disease trajectory, and 2) to explore whether symptom burden is unique to KD when compared to a non-KD population. Methods Participan...

Objectives Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have aberrant changes in body composition, including low skeletal muscle mass, a feature of “sarcopenia.” The measurement of the (quadriceps) rectus femoris (RF) cross‐sectional area (CSA) is widely used as a marker of muscle size. Cutoff values are needed to help discriminate the condition of a...

Background and Aims Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in renal transplant recipients (RTRs). General CVD risk scores underestimate the risk in RTRs who also exhibit elevated inflammation and impaired immune function. Exercise has a positive impact on these unique factors and there is growing consensus on the n...

Renal transplant recipients (RTRs) and non-dialysis chronic kidney disease (ND-CKD) patients display elevated circulating microparticle (MP) counts, whilst RTRs display immunosuppression-induced infection susceptibility. The impact of aerobic exercise on circulating immune cells and microparticles is unknown in RTRs. Fifteen RTRs (age 52.8±14.5 yea...

Background: People with chronic kidney disease (CKD) report high levels of physical inactivity, a major modifiable risk factor for morbidity and mortality. Understanding the biological, psychosocial and demographic causes of physical activity behaviour is essential for the development and improvement of potential health interventions and promotion...

Aim: Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are characterised by low skeletal muscle mass that negatively impacts physical performance. Operational definitions of "low muscle mass" are inconsistent, and it is unknown how different skeletal muscle mass indices affect the relationship between muscle mass and physical function. Methods: Appendi...

Purpose Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is characterised by poor physical function. A possible factor may be aberrant changes to balance and postural stability (i.e. ability to maintain centre of pressure (COP)). Previous research has exclusively focused on patients undergoing renal replacement therapy (RRT). The current study investigated postural st...

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients have reduced exercise capacity. Possible contributing factors may include impaired muscle O2 utilisation through reduced mitochondria number and/or function slowing the restoration of muscle ATP concentrations via oxidative phosphorylation. Using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), we explored chang...

Background Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is characterized by adverse changes in body composition, which are associated with poor clinical outcome and physical functioning. Whilst size is the key for muscle functioning, changes in muscle quality specifically increase in intramuscular fat infiltration (myosteatosis) and fibrosis (myofibrosis) may be i...

Objective: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients and renal transplant recipients (RTRs) are characterized by aberrant body composition such as muscle wasting and obesity. It is still unknown which is the most accurate method to estimate body composition in CKD. We investigated the validity of the Hume equation and bioelectrical impedance analysis...

Change of direction speed (CODS) underpins performance in a wide range of sports but little is known about how stiffness and asymmetries affect CODS. Eighteen healthy males performed unilateral drop jumps to determine vertical, ankle, knee and hip stiffness, and a CODS test to evaluate left and right leg cutting performance during which ground reac...

Asymmetry in vertical stiffness has been associated with increased injury incidence and impaired performance. The determinants of vertical stiffness asymmetry have not been previously investigated. Eighteen healthy men performed three unilateral drop jumps during which vertical stiffness and joint stiffness of the ankle and knee were calculated. Re...