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J J Burmeister

Publications and source records attributed to J J Burmeister.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

Microelectrode array studies of basal and potassium-evoked release of L-glutamate in the anesthetized rat brain.

L-glutamate (Glu) is the predominant excitatory neurotransmitter in the mammalian central nervous system. It plays major roles in normal neurophysiology and many brain disorders by binding to membrane-bound Glu receptors. To overcome the spatial and temporal limitations encountered in previous in vivo extracellular Glu studies, we employed enzyme-coated microelectrode arrays to measure both basal and potassium-evoked release of Glu in the anesthetized rat brain. We also addressed the question of signal identity, which is the predominant criticism of these recording technologies. In vivo self-referencing recordings demonstrated that our Glu signals were both enzyme- and voltage-dependent, supporting the identity of L-glutamate. In addition, basal Glu was actively regulated, tetrodotoxin (TTX)-dependent, and measured in the low micromolar range (approximately 2 microm) using multiple self-referencing subtraction approaches for identification of Glu. Moreover, potassium-evoked Glu release exhibited fast kinetics that were concentration-dependent and reproducible. These data support the hypothesis that Glu release is highly regulated, requiring detection technologies that must be very close to the synapse and measure on a second-by-second basis to best characterize the dynamics of the Glu system.

Anesthetics↗

Self-referencing ceramic-based multisite microelectrodes for the detection and elimination of interferences from the measurement of L-glutamate and other analytes.

A self-referencing technique utilizing two microelectrodes on a ceramic-based multisite array is employed for confirmation and elimination of interferences detected by enzyme-based microelectrodes. The measurement of L-glutamate using glutamate oxidase was the test system; however, other oxidase enzymes such as glucose oxidase can be employed. One recording site was coated with Nafion with L-glutamate oxidase and bovine serum albumin (BSA) cross-linked with glutaraldehyde while the other had Nafion with BSA cross-linked with glutaraldehyde. Differences in the chemistry of the two recording sites allowed for identification and elimination of interfering signals to be removed from the analyte response. The electrode showed low detection limits (LOD = 0.98 +/- 0.09 microM, signal-to-noise ratio of 3), fast response times (T90 approximately 1 s), and excellent linearity (R2 = 0.999 +/- 0.000) over the concentration range of 0-200 microM for calibrations of L-glutamate in vitro. The selectivity and dimensions of the multisite electrode allow in vivo glutamate measurements. This electrode has been applied to in vivo measurements of the clearance of locally applied glutamate and release of glutamate in the prefrontal cortex of anesthetized rats. In addition, a aimilar approach has been applied to the development of a microelectrode for measures of glucose.

Amino Acid Oxidoreductases↗

Ceramic-based multisite microelectrodes for electrochemical recordings.

This paper describes the development and characterization of ceramic-based multisite arrays for electrochemical recordings in biological systems. These electrodes represent a parallel technology to the design of microelectrodes using silicon substrates. The ceramic substrates are stronger than silicon and are nonconducting, which makes them better suited for in vivo electrochemical measurements. The current designs are based on formation of four-site (50 x 50 microns with 200 microns spacing) electrodes on ceramic wafers using photolithography. The recording sites and connecting lines are made of Pt with a polyimide coating to insulate the connecting lines. The resulting electrodes are cut from the wafers producing a 1 cm length microelectrode that tapers to a approximately 2-5 microns tip. Electrochemical measures of dopamine and hydrogen peroxide support that the sensitivity, selectivity, and response characteristics of the electrodes exceed those of previously published silicon substrate-based microelectrodes. This is the first demonstration of microarrays formed from ceramic substrates, and the data presented support the hypothesis that these microelectrodes may be useful for a variety of neurochemical and electrophysiological applications. Preliminary in vivo electrochemical recordings are presented.

Animals↗

Noninvasive blood glucose measurements by near-infrared transmission spectroscopy across human tongues.

Noninvasive blood glucose measurements are characterized in human subjects. A series of first overtone transmission spectra are collected across the tongues of five human subjects with type 1 diabetes. The noninvasive human spectra are collected by an experimental protocol that is designed to minimize chance correlations with blood glucose levels. In one treatment of the data, every fifth sample is used as a blind prediction point to validate model performance. In another rearrangement of the data, the spectra collected over the first 29 days are used to build calibration models that are then used to predict in vivo glycemia from spectra collected over the next 10 days. Of the five data sets (one for each subject), one demonstrates a complete inability to predict blood glucose levels and is deemed void of glucose-specific information. Glucose-specific information is evident in the remaining four data sets, albeit to varying degrees. For all data sets, the ability to measure glucose from spectra collected noninvasively from human subjects depends on spectral quality and reproducibility of the tongue-to-spectrometer interface. The standard error of prediction is 3.4 mM for the best calibration model. The significance of this magnitude of prediction error is discussed relative to the situations where: (1) the model is completely void of glucose-specific information and (2) glucose predictions are limited by spectral signal-to-noise and sample thickness. Overall, glucose-specific information is available from noninvasive first-overtone spectra collected across human tongues. Significant improvements are necessary, however, before clinically useful measurements are possible.

Blood Glucose↗

Evaluation of measurement sites for noninvasive blood glucose sensing with near-infrared transmission spectroscopy.

Six putative measurement sites were evaluated for noninvasive sensing of blood glucose by first-overtone near-infrared spectroscopy. The cheek, lower lip, upper lip, nasal septum, tongue, and webbing tissue between the thumb and forefinger were examined. These sites were evaluated on the basis of their chemical and physical properties as they pertain to the noninvasive measurement of glucose. Critical features included the effective optical pathlength of aqueous material within the tissue and the percentage of body fat within the optical path. Aqueous optical paths of 5 mm are required to measure clinically relevant concentrations of glucose in the first-overtone region. All of the tested sites met this requirement. The percentage of body fat affects the signal-to-noise ratio of the measurement and must be minimized for reliable glucose sensing. The webbing tissue contains a considerable amount of fat tissue and is clearly the worse measurement site. All other sites possess substantially less fat, with the least amount of fat in tongue tissue. For this reason, the tongue provides spectra with the highest signal-to-noise ratio and is, therefore, the site of choice on the basis of spectral quality.

Blood Glucose↗

Phantom glucose calibration models from simulated noninvasive human near-infrared spectra.

The validity of published reports claiming to have successfully measured in vivo blood glucose from noninvasive near-infrared spectra collected in a time-dependent manner is challenged on the basis of results obtained from a phantom glucose spectral data set. An in vitro model is used to simulate noninvasive human near-IR spectra. The phantom glucose data set is created by purposely omitting glucose in these modeled samples. Glucose values are then assigned to successive phantom glucose spectra, and multivariate calibration models are generated for glucose based on partial-least squares regression. As expected, calibration models are incapable of predicting glucose values when the glucose assignments are made randomly. Apparently functional models are obtained, however, when glucose assignments are made in a nonrandom, time-dependent manner. Prediction errors from these nonrandom models are essentially identical to those published by other as evidence of successful noninvasive blood glucose measurements. Chance temporal correlations between assigned glucose concentrations and some uncontrolled experimental parameter are responsible for this apparent model functionality.

Calibration↗

Phantoms for noninvasive blood glucose sensing with near infrared transmission spectroscopy.

In vivo spectra from human subjects can be simulated with a phantom composed of different layers of water, fat and muscle tissue. All three components are necessary to simulate in vivo spectra collected over the combination spectral region (5000-4000 cm-1). Muscle tissue is not required, however, to accurately simulate overtone spectra (6600-5400 cm-1). The near-IR spectral characteristics of fat and muscle tissue from several animal sources are essentially identical to those found for human tissue, hence, the animal source for these phantom components is not critical. Thickness of each tissue layer can be determined by a regression analysis where the in vivo spectrum of interest is regressed against standard absorbance spectra of the necessary model components (water, fat and muscle). In general, in vivo overtone spectra collected across human webbing tissue with a thickness of 6.7 mm can be simulated with water layer thicknesses ranging from 5.0 to 6.4 mm combined with fat layer thicknesses from 1.4 to 4.2 mm.

Animals↗