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Background: This review aims to fill the knowledge gaps in the understanding of the World Health Organization's International Nonproprietary Names (INN) nomenclature system among students and professionals in order to improve education and develop a better use of INN. The ultimate goal is to promote safe use of medicines and a unifying global language for educating health professionals and scientists. Methods: This review about clinical use of INN by health professionals was conducted using the Web of Science database and the search was framed between the period of 1900 and 2020. Key words such as INN, nonproprietary or approved name, drug nomenclature were used as search terms to collate the relevant articles for the review. In addition, feedback was collected by the WHO INN Programme on the awareness of the INN among university students. Students residing in nine countries across the world were invited to participate by completing a survey that contained 10 questions regarding the INN. Results: Students are generally not familiar with the INN nomenclature system, hence when they learn about drugs, they often resort to memorisation. Practitioners do not fully understand how the INN can help them recognize the pharmacological class and mode of action of the drugs they prescribe. Implications: The INN nomenclature system is a useful tool for education and practice. Since the establishment of the World Health Organization's International Nonproprietary Names Programme in 1950, the process for naming new chemical and biological pharmaceutical substances has become more complex but is highly rooted in scientific evidence. The INN in its multiple translated forms is certainly a global language that can contribute to the safety of patients. Understanding the construct of INN will thus be beneficial for learning and the application thereof in medicine., Introduction A drug can be identified in several different ways, for example by its chemical name or its brand name; but these names have limitations and may cause confusion. The [...]

Neurodegenerative disorders pose a significant challenge to global healthcare systems due to their progressive nature and the resulting loss of neuronal cells and functions. Excitotoxicity, characterized by calcium overload, plays a critical role in the pathophysiology of these disorders. In this review article, we explore the involvement of calcium dysregulation in neurodegeneration and neurodegenerative disorders. A promising therapeutic strategy to counter calcium dysregulation involves the use of calcium modulators, particularly polycyclic cage compounds. These compounds, structurally related to amantadine and memantine, exhibit neuroprotective properties by attenuating calcium influx into neuronal cells. Notably, the pentacycloundecylamine NGP1-01, a cage-like structure, has shown efficacy in inhibiting both N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors and voltage- gated calcium channels (VGCCs), making it a potential candidate for neuroprotection against excitotoxic-induced neurodegenerative disorders. The structure-activity relationship of polycyclic cage compounds is discussed in detail, highlighting their calcium-inhibitory activities. Various closed, open, and rearranged cage compounds have demonstrated inhibitory effects on calcium influx through NMDA receptors and VGCCs. Additionally, these compounds have exhibited neuroprotective properties, including free radical scavenging, attenuation of neurotoxicities, and reduction of neuroinflammation. Although the calcium modulatory activities of polycyclic cage compounds have been extensively studied, apart from amantadine and memantine, none have undergone clinical trials. Further in vitro and in vivo studies and subsequent clinical trials are required to establish the efficacy and safety of these compounds. The development of polycyclic cages as potential multifunctional agents for treating complex neurodegenerative diseases holds great promise.

WHO assigns International Nonproprietary Names (INN) to pharmaceutical substances. A recent survey among health sciences students and professionals showed that not all respondents were equally aware of what INN are and how they are constructed. The findings of the survey will support efforts to promote the use of INN in practice. Furthermore, more knowledge about INN could enhance students' understanding of the different classes and modes of action of medicines., Introduction The INN nomenclature system provides unique identifications for pharmaceutical substances. The INN are constructed with a prefix and a stem, occasionally an infix is included where necessary. The stem [...]