Free radical science: the long road from basic science to clinical medicine

The process of translating our exploding knowledge in the area of free radicals and antioxidants from basic science to clinical medicine may take longer than many scientists and physicians had hoped. The field of "oxidant/antioxidant" science is only one example of how the translation of knowledge from controlled molecular or cellular systems to applications in an organ or even a complex animal or human being, requires an enormous amount of classical pathophysiological work. The articles on the special topic of the role of free radicals in gastroenterological and hepatological diseases will, it is hoped, contribute to this process.