Oxygen Radicals in the Pathophysiology of Heart Disease

Over two centuries ago, oxygen was discovered as "air vital": the component of the earth's atmosphere necessary for life. Less than five years after this discovery, it was found that oxygen was both a life-sustaining and life threatening inhalant as it plays a role in the two extremes of the animal kingdom: life and death. In the subse­ quent years, we have made major strides in understanding the role of oxygen in maintaining life and volumes of information are now available on this topic. Our