Osteoporosis is a major cause of fragility fractures, with hip fracture (HF) representing the most severe complication in older adults. However, national data on osteoporosis treatment use before and after hip fracture in Italy are limited. This multicenter prospective study included individuals aged ≥65 years admitted for HF between July 2019 and June 2024 at 12 orthogeriatric centers. Osteoporosis treatments (vitamin D, calcium, antiresorptive, anabolic, dual effect agents) were recorded at admission, discharge, and 120- and 365-day follow-ups. Patients were classified as "Never users" if untreated throughout the study period or "Ever users" if treated at least once. Multivariate logistic regression identified factors independently associated with lack of treatment. Among 1,012 patients (median age 83 years; 77.2% female), 85.6% were untreated at admission; this proportion dropped to 34.4% at discharge but rose again to 50% at 1 year. Vitamin D and calcium were the predominant treatments, while antiresorptive, anabolic, and dual effect agents were underused. Overall, 22% of patients were classified as "Never users". They were generally older, more often male, and had higher comorbidity, dementia, frailty, and mobility limitations. Only male sex was independently associated with lack of treatment (Odds Ratio 2.37, 95% Confidence Intervals 1.59-3.55). Despite clinical guideline recommendations, osteoporosis treatment remains suboptimal among older HF patients in Italy, especially in male patients. Findings support the need for national programs and multidisciplinary strategies to reduce the treatment gap and improve long-term management.
Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PanNETs) are rare neoplasms belonging to the broader group of neuroendocrine neoplasms. Epidemiological evidence indicates that visceral obesity is associated with both an increased incidence of PanNETs and unfavorable clinicopathological features. However, the mechanisms underlying adipocyte-PanNETs interactions remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated the crosstalk between adipocytes and PanNET cells (BON-1 and QGP-1 cell lines) using indirect co-culture systems and conditioned media derived from differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes or PanNET cells. Our results demonstrate that PanNET cells induce adipocyte reprogramming toward a cancer-associated adipocyte (CAA) phenotype, characterized by lipid depletion and downregulation of adipogenic markers, including Pparg, Fabp4, Hsl, and Atgl. We identified PanNET-derived interleukin-1β (IL-1β) as a key driver of adipocyte conversion into CAAs. This process was accompanied by increased secretion of the chemokine CXCL12 from CAAs, which in turn appeared to enhance PanNET cell proliferation and IL-1β release, thereby establishing a positive bidirectional crosstalk consistent with a feedback-like mechanism between CXCL12 and IL-1β in CAAs and PanNET cells, respectively. Indeed, pharmacological disruption of this axis using AMD3100, a CXCR4 antagonist, significantly reduced both IL-1β and CXCL12 secretion, prevented adipocyte reprogramming, and suppressed tumor cell proliferation. Comparable effects were observed following incubation of PanNET-adipocyte co-cultures with canakinumab, an IL-1β pathway inhibitor. Collectively, these findings identify IL-1β and CXCL12 as potential critical mediators of the inflammatory crosstalk between adipocytes and PanNET cells. Targeting this signalling axis may therefore represent a promising therapeutic strategy for PanNETs.
Sydenham's chorea (SC) is the most common form of acquired chorea in childhood and a neurological manifestation of acute rheumatic fever (ARF). It is characterized by involuntary, rapid, and irregular movements. Although the diagnosis is clinical, neuroimaging can play a valuable complementary role. SC arises from an autoimmune response triggered by a streptococcal infection, targeting the basal ganglia. In some cases, it may be the sole manifestation of ARF. We present two pediatric cases with acute hemichorea. In one of them, chorea was the only clinical manifestation. Brain MRIs showed punctate ischemic lesions compatible with postinfectious vasculitis, allowing exclusion of other causes of vasculopathy and movement disorders. Both patients were treated with valproic acid and aspirin as an antiplatelet agent. Clinical and radiological improvement was observed in both cases, allowing treatment withdrawal after six months without symptom recurrence. La corea de Sydenham (CS) es la forma más frecuente de corea adquirida en la infancia y una manifestación neurológica de la fiebre reumática (FR) aguda. Se caracteriza por movimientos involuntarios, rápidos e irregulares. Aunque el diagnóstico es clínico, la neuroimagen puede cumplir un rol complementario valioso. La CS surge como resultado de una respuesta autoinmune desencadenada por una infección estreptocócica, dirigida contra los ganglios basales. En ciertos casos, puede ser la única manifestación de FR. Se presentan dos casos pediátricos con hemicorea aguda. En uno de ellos, la corea fue la única manifestación clínica. Las resonancias magnéticas (RM) mostraron lesiones isquémicas puntiformes compatibles con vasculitis postinfecciosa, permitiendo descartar otras causas de vasculopatía y de trastornos del movimiento. Ambos pacientes fueron tratados con ácido valproico y aspirina como tratamiento antiplaquetario. Se observó una buena evolución clínica e imagenológica, lo que permitió suspender el tratamiento a los seis meses sin recurrencia de los síntomas.
To develop and validate a quantitative framework for intraoperative indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence imaging of the parathyroid glands during robotic bilateral axillo-breast approach (BABA) thyroidectomy and to identify technical and clinical factors associated with optimal image quality. ICG fluorescence is increasingly used to aid parathyroid identification and perfusion assessment in thyroid surgery, but there is no consensus on optimal dosing, image quantification, or patient selection, particularly in the context of robotic thyroidectomy. A robust, objective definition of "good" imaging is needed to standardise protocols and support broader clinical adoption. In this single-centre prospective study (June 2024-January 2025), 72 consecutive patients with low-risk papillary thyroid carcinoma underwent robotic BABA thyroidectomy with ICG fluorescence using the da Vinci Xi system. A cyclic dosing protocol (1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0 mL) was applied in eligible cases. For each patient, a 12-s fluorescence sequence was recorded from the onset of visible ICG uptake, and 12 frames (1 frame per second) were extracted. In each frame, the parathyroid region (Zone A) and periparathyroid background (Zone C) were manually segmented, and the relative fluorescence intensity ratio (RFIR = A/C) was calculated. Image quality was independently graded on a 3-point scale (0-2) and classified as clear (mean score ≥ 1) or unclear (< 1). Receiver operating characteristic analysis was used to derive an RFIR threshold for "good" imaging. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression were performed to explore associations between imaging quality and clinical variables (demographics, biochemistry, thyroiditis, fasting blood glucose [FBG], intraoperative haemodynamics) and ICG dose. An RFIR cut-off of 1.07 yielded an area under the curve of 0.832 for discrimination between clear and unclear images. At the case level, imaging was defined as good when at least 6 of 12 frames (≥ 50%) had RFIR ≥ 1.07. In univariable analysis, higher body mass index was positively associated with good imaging (odds ratio [OR] 1.18, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03-1.36; P = 0.020), whereas an ICG dose of 3.0 mL was negatively associated (OR 0.11, 95% CI 0.02-0.50; P = 0.004). In multivariable analysis, elevated FBG (OR 0.25, 95% CI 0.08-0.86; P = 0.027) and an ICG dose of 3.0 mL (OR 0.01, 95% CI 0.00-0.17; P = 0.001) remained independently associated with reduced odds of good imaging, while other clinical and haemodynamic variables were not significant. Interaction analyses showed that low FBG combined with lower doses (1.5-2.0 mL) provided the highest predicted probability of optimal imaging, whereas high FBG with higher doses (2.5-3.0 mL) yielded the poorest performance. ICG fluorescence imaging of the parathyroid glands during robotic BABA thyroidectomy can be standardised using an RFIR threshold of 1.07 and a frame-based majority rule to define good imaging. Lower ICG doses (1.5-2.0 mL) and favourable metabolic status (low FBG) are key determinants of optimal image quality, whereas higher doses (3.0 mL) and elevated FBG are associated with over-saturation and reduced contrast. These findings support tailored, low-dose ICG protocols and provide a quantitative benchmark for future multi-centre studies linking fluorescence metrics to postoperative calcium and parathyroid function outcomes.
Hybrid light-matter platforms that combine biomolecular photochemistry with engineered electromagnetic fields offer a promising, largely unexplored way to extend optogenetic control beyond the limits of native chromophores. Channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2), a widely used light-gated ion channel, serves as an ideal model to test whether metallic nanoclusters can interface with membrane photoreceptors without disrupting their structure or function. Using large-scale molecular dynamics simulations from multiple starting configurations, we simulate ChR2 in complex with a gold nanocluster, which does not exhibit plasmonic behavior but lies within the size regime where metallic nanoclusters begin to display plasmonic resonances. We find that these functionalized nanoclusters spontaneously form stable, physiologically relevant complexes with ChR2 while preserving its global structure, hydration, retinal binding pocket, and native dynamics. Protein network and contact perturbation analyses uncover an unreported allosteric link between nanocluster binding sites and the retinal cavity, suggesting a mechanism to tune photochemical behavior. Our results establish a molecular feasibility framework for integrating nanoclusters with optogenetic receptors, opening the way for the design of future nano-optogenetic platforms that could modulate photoreceptor photochemistry without genetic or chemical modification of the photoreceptor itself.
Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a severe eating disorder, leading to life-threatening complications and psychosocial impairment. Among its complex clinical features, a prominent but poorly understood feature is the intense State Urge to be Physically Active (SUPA), which may not always manifest as observable physical activity. This systematic review followed PRISMA guidelines to synthesize current empirical evidence regarding the characteristics, biological underpinnings, assessment methods and clinical implications of SUPA in AN across varying illness severity levels. A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, and EBSCOhost databases identified 1165 records, of which 17 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the final review. These studies employed both objective and subjective assessments of the SUPA. Findings suggest that the SUPA may persist regardless of BMI changes, including during recovery, and may function as a maladaptive emotion regulation strategy, rather than reflect a dispositional feature. Higher SUPA levels during weight restoration seem to predict poorer post treatment weight maintenance. In clinical settings, SUPA may signal illness severity and resistance to weight restoration, warranting its proactive inclusion in diagnostic and treatment frameworks. To advance understanding and management of SUPA in AN, future research should address confounding factors such as illness duration, validate standardised assessment tools and procedures, and explore targeted interventions to improve outcomes in AN.
Theory of mind (ToM), the ability to infer others' beliefs (cognitive ToM) and emotions (affective ToM), is compromised in behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD). However, its diagnostic and prognostic value in other frontotemporal dementia (FTD) variants remains underexplored due to limited understanding of the underlying neural mechanisms. This study investigated whether ToM deficits are shared across the frontotemporal dementia spectrum and explored the functional connectivity alterations underlying these disturbances using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. Sixty-seven FTD patients [14 non-fluent variant primary progressive aphasia (nfvPPA), 17 semantic variant primary progressive aphasia (svPPA), 23 bvFTD, 13 right temporal variant frontotemporal dementia (rtvFTD); 34 women; mean age 66.5 ± 7.7 years] and two control groups (48 age-matched healthy controls; 50 young healthy controls) underwent clinical, neuropsychological and brain magnetic resonance imaging assessments. ToM was evaluated in patients using the Story-Based Empathy Task (SET), which includes the Story-Based Empathy Task affective subtest (SET-EA) and the Story-Based Empathy Task cognitive subtest (SET-IA). Resting-state functional connectivity networks were obtained in young healthy controls using seed-based analysis centred on the left medial prefrontal cortex for affective ToM and the right supramarginal gyrus for cognitive ToM. In addition, four large-scale functional networks were reconstructed to reflect disease-specific vulnerability. Functional brain connectivity within all networks was quantified using graph analysis and connectomics, and between-group comparisons were performed on both global and seed-based regional metrics. All patient groups showed similar impairments in affective and cognitive ToM performance. Network analyses revealed two dissociable but interconnected ToM systems. Global metrics of network topology indicated increased path length and reduced nodal strength in both ToM networks, particularly in bvFTD and nfvPPA patients (P < 0.05). Direct seed-based connectivity analyses confirmed widespread functional connectivity reductions from key nodes (e.g. left inferior frontal gyrus, anterior cingulate cortex) in these groups. In contrast, svPPA and rtvFTD cases exhibited relatively preserved functional connectivity within ToM circuits. Correlation analyses revealed associations between cognitive ToM network metrics and global ToM performance, and between functional connectivity in the salience network and behavioural dysfunction. Affective and cognitive ToM abilities are comparably impaired across FTD variants, suggesting that socio-cognitive impairments may represent a core and early feature across the FTD spectrum. Such deficits are mirrored by patterns of functional disconnection within dedicated large-scale networks, with bvFTD and nfvPPA showing the most pronounced disruptions. This study underscores the diagnostic relevance of socio-cognitive markers and highlights their potential as clinical and biomarker targets in future therapeutic interventions.
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Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, alcohol-associated liver disease and metabolic dysfunction and alcohol-related liver disease represent the principal subtypes of steatotic liver disease (SLD), together constituting a rapidly growing global health challenge. Latin America bears a disproportionately high burden of SLD, driven by the convergence of increasing prevalence of obesity and type 2 diabetes, high levels of harmful alcohol consumption, and a high frequency of genetic risk variants, particularly in the gene encoding patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing protein 3 (PNPLA3). These factors interact synergistically to accelerate disease progression, increasing the risk of steatohepatitis, advanced fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Despite this substantial burden, the region faces major structural and health-system constraints, including fragmented health-care delivery, limited hepatology capacity, restricted access to diagnostic and therapeutic technologies, and low participation in clinical trials, all of which hinder early detection and the generation of region-specific evidence. This Review summarizes current data on the epidemiology and clinical burden of SLD in Latin America, identifies critical gaps in research and surveillance, and highlights priorities for prevention, harm reduction and health-system strengthening, including the implementation of effective public policies to reduce morbidity and mortality and improve health outcomes in the region.
The shortened protocol of Nitroglycerin (NTG)-potentiated head-up tilt testing (HUTT), the so-called "fast Italian protocol," has been shown to significantly reduce test duration while maintaining diagnostic yield and safety in adults with suspected reflex syncope. To date, no data is available in paediatric patients. Aim of the study was to compare the positivity rate of the Fast protocol with that of the Traditional protocol in children and adolescents. We retrospectively analyzed 302 consecutive paediatric patients (mean age 14.4 ± 2.8 years; 46.7% male) who underwent HUTT for suspected reflex syncope at two paediatric syncope units. Patients were evaluated using either a traditional NTG-potentiated protocol (n = 149) or the Fast Italian protocol (n = 153), characterized by shorter passive and active phases. Haemodynamic responses were classified according to the VASIS classification. HUTT was positive in 81.2% of patients undergoing the traditional protocol and in 73.2% of those undergoing the Fast protocol, with no significant difference between groups (p = 0.1). Compared with the Traditional, in the Fast protocol the positivity was lower during the passive phase (7.8% vs. 36.2%; p < 0.001) but higher during the NTG-potentiated phase (65.4% vs. 45%; p < 0.001). The overall distribution of haemodynamic response types was similar between protocols, with mixed responses being the most frequent, followed by cardioinhibitory and vasodepressive patterns. In paediatric patients with suspected reflex syncope, the Fast Italian HUTT provides a diagnostic yield comparable to that of the traditional nitroglycerin-potentiated protocol. Shortening the protocol does not significantly affect the distribution of haemodynamic response types.
Competency-based medical education (CBME) is widely adopted in numerous countries, but many programs struggle to translate its conceptual promises into routine educational and clinical practice. Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs), a key mechanism to operationalize CBME, have been implemented in different ways with substantial variation across contexts. While implementation challenges are well described, the field lacks explanatory approaches to understand why such variation occurs and how it shapes practice. In this Show-and-Tell contribution we apply Normalization Process Theory (NPT), an implementation theory, to analyze how EPA-based curriculum reforms are taken up, enacted, and sustained across settings. We conducted a comparative, theory-informed analysis of implementation experiences from five regions (in Latin America, Asia, North America, Europe) drawing on materials from an international EPA symposium (Barcelona, 2025). Data sources include a pre-symposium survey, invited presentations, transcripts of plenary discussions, and follow-up reflections. Using NPT's four core constructs (coherence, cognitive participation, collective action, and reflexive monitoring), we examined how stakeholders make sense of EPAs, engage with implementation, integrate practices into clinical routines, and adapt them over time. The analysis revealed recurring mechanisms shaping implementation across contexts. Challenges included conceptual ambiguity, variable engagement, workflow pressures, and misalignment with existing practices. At the same time, enabling conditions emerged across settings: clear communication of purpose, phased implementation strategies, coordinated faculty development, leadership support, and context-sensitive adaptation. By foregrounding implementation mechanisms rather than outcomes alone, NPT offers a transferable analytic lens to guide, evaluate, and refine curriculum reforms.
Effective neurorehabilitation necessitates a reliable assessment of the patient's sensorimotor status. Such assessment guides clinical decision-making and supports the evaluation of novel interventions. Yet, despite technological progress, it remains limited to clinical scales that are mostly based on subjective scoring systems and measurement protocols with poor reproducibility. 
Research on neuromechanical biomarkers-metrics of movement derived from kinematic, kinetic and physiological data-has demonstrated significant potential to advance towards more reliable assessment. However, their clinical validation and practical adoption remain limited, impeding the development of more objective, standardized, and clinically relevant measurement of movement.
This article consolidates expert perspectives from a multidisciplinary workshop held at the 2024 International Conference on NeuroRehabilitation (ICNR) in La Granja (Spain), focusing on the development of reliable assessment tools useful in clinical practice. The emerging central topic is the urgent need for assessment tools that are grounded in validated measurements. To address this, we structure the discussion around three pillars: standardization, to ensure methodological consistency; transferability, to support generalization across populations and technologies; and shareability, to enable collaboration, validation, and scaling. For each pillar, we outline current challenges and potential steps towards them, proposing a roadmap for developing assessment frameworks that are suitable for real-world use.
The LACROSS study followed 2,012 patients with atrial fibrillation in Latin America and found that nearly 30% were not receiving oral anticoagulation. Clinical outcomes included notable rates of death, stroke, hospitalization, and bleeding, with higher risk linked to age, diabetes, and renal disease. These findings highlight persistent gaps in anticoagulation use and the need to improve care in the region.
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This review explores the rapidly evolving integration of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) in mental health care. It aims to evaluate current applications in assessment, treatment planning, and psychotherapeutic interventions, while critically examining the clinical risks, ethical dilemmas, and the future potential of GenAI as an adjunctive tool rather than a replacement for human-delivered therapy. Recent studies indicate that AI models can effectively assist in diagnostic reasoning, biomarker identification via EEG, and the prediction of symptom trajectories from session transcripts. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) suggest that GenAI chatbots significantly reduce anxiety and depressive symptoms in the short term, particularly in settings with limited access to clinicians. However, human-led therapy remains superior in fostering deep emotional engagement and clinical impact. Significant risks identified include the potential for GenAI to foster dependency, reinforce maladaptive schemas or delusional ideation through "sycophantic" mirroring, and raise complex ethical-legal challenges regarding the reporting of criminal disclosures. AI represents a transformative adjunctive layer in mental health, offering scalable support for assessment, training, and between-session monitoring. While technological advances in personalization, multimodality, and immersive virtual reality enhance its clinical utility, GenAI lacks the authentic relational depth and"calibrated mismatches" essential for autonomy and transformative change. Future integration must prioritize a human-centered, blended approach, where GenAI is strictly supervised by clinicians within a robust ethical and regulatory framework to preserve the essential heart of the therapeutic connection. Research priorities, interim clinical safeguards, and recommendations for navigating the gap between current evidence and real-world adoption need to be defined and implemented.
Gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) occurs in most (~75%) patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and significantly impacts quality of life. Current recommendations lack depth and therefore, our aim was to produce practical, consensus-based recommendations for refractory SSc-related GERD. An international, multidisciplinary Steering Board (SB) was assembled (n=19) consisting of clinicians (rheumatologists, gastroenterologists, GI surgeons), an expert methodologist, and patient representation. After reviewing the latest definitions of GERD and refractory GERD in the published literature, the SB collectively devised a practical definition of SSc refractory-GERD. Initial recommendations were drafted/agreed upon by the SB based on review of the existing guidelines, published literature, and expert opinion. Two online voting rounds were conducted to determine whether items should be accepted, with >75% and >60% SB agreement required for first and second rounds, respectively. There was a good response/completion rate for the initial (74%) and final (84%) voting rounds. The SB agreed on all 36 draft recommendations. The majority (n=34) were approved in the first round. Recommendations were organized according to the following categories: general approach to management (n=5), assessment (n=6), non-pharmacological (n=2) and pharmacological (n=10) management, endoscopic and surgical treatment (n=3), and special circumstances, including refractory GERD and SSc-ILD (n=3), myositis and SSc CTD-overlap (n=3) and peri-lung transplant (n=4). The group of experts has drafted extended and practical recommendations for the management of SSc refractory-GERD. The necessity of a structured approach and a patient assessment is highlighted in order to provide a multi-disciplinary approach to the tailored choice of the treatment. Our work also has also identified significant unmet needs and has provided a research agenda to advance the field.
MINST treatment was more effective in reducing median periodontal outcomes at 12-month follow-up than the conventional approach. Across 12-months follow-up, the overall PPD reduction was significantly influenced by a high number of cigarettes/day, erratic/non-compliance supportive treatment, high no. pockets ≥ 4 mm BoP+, number of pockets 4-5 mm, number of pockets ≥ 6 mm, and by high FMBS.
Solid‑phase assays for the detection of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) are central to the laboratory evaluation of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). Growing insights into the molecular immunology underlying these assays challenge traditional interpretations. It is now evident that the antigenic drivers are phospholipids (PL)‑binding proteins - primarily β2-glycoprotein I (β2GPI) and prothrombin (PT). β2-glycoprotein I‑dependent aPL represent the dominant subset, recognizing discontinuous conformational epitopes spanning domains I-II (DI-DII). Solid matrices coated with anionic PL or partially oxidized polystyrene amplify DV anchoring through its lysine‑rich cationic loop, thereby increasing local antigen density and molecule orientation, ultimately enhancing functional avidity of intrinsically low‑affinity aPL. These antibodies contribute to reactivity across all three APS laboratory criteria assays: lupus anticoagulant (LA), anticardiolipin, and anti‑β2GPI. Beyond β2GPI, PT‑reactive aPL, detected by phosphatidylserine/prothrombin (aPS/PT) ELISAs, bind epitopes unveiled only when PT engages anionic PL in a Ca²⁺‑dependent conformational transition. Distinct antigenic specificities - type I (open‑conformation fragment‑1 epitope) and type II (C‑terminal Gla domain) - exhibit divergent affinities, matrix‑dependent binding behaviors, and heterogeneous LA activity. Antibodies detected through aPS/PT assays are associated with APS manifestations and often with LA (range 54.8-82.0%). Conversely, a smaller population of 'pure' lipid‑binding aPL, independent of β2GPI or PT, appears to target lysobisphosphatidic acid (LBPA) within the endothelial protein C receptor/LBPA complex, activating pro‑inflammatory/pro‑coagulant pathways. Although these antibodies may contribute to APS pathogenesis in a minority of patients, their detection remains technically challenging and is currently confined to research settings. Understanding the immunological characteristics of aPL subsets is essential for interpreting solid‑phase assays and improving APS management.
The CROSSBRAIN EU project aims to address the heterogeneous nature of brain pathologies by developing wireless implantable microbots (µBots, planned dimensions 100 × 100 × 100 μm3) for highly localized neuromodulation. These devices are designed to precisely modulate brain activity with minimal invasiveness, enabling targeted resolution of specific spatiotemporal events, capabilities not currently achieved by existing neuromodulation technologies. A crucial step involves visualizing and ensuring the optimal placement of the µBots in the brain tissue, to study their functionality after implantation. In this preliminary ex vivo study, we used non-functional µBot silicon (Si) dummies matching the lateral dimensions of the intended µBots, with reduced thickness (100 × 100 × 50 μm3) to simplify fabrication and handling. Due to the intrinsic MRI incompatibility of the µBot platform, encompassing both the dummies used in this study and the future functional devices under development, and the limitations of standard histological approaches in reliably identifying and preserving the implant site during processing, we developed an integrated imaging workflow combining 2D and 3D techniques. While standard histological methods and tissue clearing presented substantial limitations in preserving the position of the dummies within the brain tissue, combining histological techniques with 3D X-ray tomography provided a robust strategy. In particular, synchrotron radiation-based X-ray Phase Contrast Tomography (XPCT), with its intrinsic high contrast and resolution, enabled detailed visualization of dummies within the surrounding vascular and cellular architecture. In contrast, conventional micro-Computed Tomography (micro-CT), although more widely accessible, enabled non-destructive guidance for targeted sectioning. Importantly, and in line with the scope of a Brief Research Report, this study presents a preliminary but technically robust investigation conducted within the CROSSBRAIN project, aimed at identifying and establishing an optimized imaging strategy for the visualization of implanted µBots in brain tissue. This methodological framework is intended as an initial step toward future in vivo studies, in which the validated imaging pipeline will be applied to track both dummy and functional devices and to enable subsequent evaluation of foreign body response under physiologically relevant conditions. This ex vivo workflow therefore provides the essential technical foundation for such future investigations and supports the clear positioning of this work as a feasibility and optimization study. This approach could be particularly valuable for new generations of implantable technologies incompatible with MRI and could support future development of personalized neuromodulation therapies by enabling precise device localization and structural tissue assessment.