{
  "abstract": "Purpose To determine the optimal saturation time (T sat ) that maximizes the CEST contrast between a reference and a target signal, such as normal versus pathological tissues or pre- versus post-contrast conditions. Methods The optimal T sat (T sat, opt ) was determined from T 1 and a single measurement of the normalized saturated signal (S sat /S 0 ). We evaluated the analytically derived T sat, opt using simulation, phantom, and in vivo experiments. Results Theoretical analysis showed that the S sat /S 0 measured at T sat, opt is always higher than 0.37. When the repetition time (TR) is fixed or is very long (i.e., >5 T 1 ), the T sat, opt is independent of TR and can be derived from T 1 and S sat /S 0 measured at any T sat . When the steady state S sat /S 0 is 0.5 or 1/3, the T sat, opt equals to T 1 or T 1 /2, respectively. The analytically derived T sat, opt were validated by simulation, phantom and in vivo experiment results, and can be extended to include multiple CEST and non-CEST effects (excluding changes in T 1 ). The relative error of the T sat,opt is <10–15% for typical CEST contrasts of <5%. For very large contrast (e.g., >10% of S 0 ), more accurate estimation of T sat, opt can be obtained from the averaged S sat /S 0 of the reference and target signals. Conclusion T sat, opt can be determined from T 1 and a single measurement of the saturated signal. This approach simplifies optimization of T sat in CEST experiments, especially when using relatively high saturation powers or resonance frequencies close to water.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15203, USA"
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 3,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Yifan Zhao"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Julius Juhyun Chung"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Tao Jin"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/3cqmqre8tmbaz.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1016/j.mri.2026.110747",
  "fulltext_url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13715684/",
  "id": "3cqmqre8tmbaz",
  "issns": [
    "0730-725X",
    "1873-5894"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mri.2026.110747",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "heading",
      "Article"
    ],
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      "openalex",
      "2741|Advanced MRI Techniques and Applications"
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  "openalex": "W7168158322",
  "pdf_url": null,
  "pmcid": "PMC13715684",
  "pmid": "42442622",
  "published": "2026-07-13",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/3cqmqre8tmbaz.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-01T12:22:54Z",
      "native_id": "PMC13715684",
      "source": "pmc",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mri.2026.110747"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2741|Advanced MRI Techniques and Applications",
      "subfield": "imaging"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Optimizing Saturation Time for Maximum CEST Contrast",
  "title_text": "Optimizing Saturation Time for Maximum CEST Contrast",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-04T12:21:17Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/3cqmqre8tmbaz",
  "venue": "Magnetic resonance imaging",
  "versions": []
}