The current state of animal models in research: A review.

Animal models have provided invaluable information in the pursuit of medical knowledge and alleviation of human suffering. The foundations of our basic understanding of disease pathophysiology and human anatomy can largely be attributed to preclinical investigations using various animal models. Recently, however, the scientific community, citing concerns about animal welfare as well as the validity and applicability of outcomes, has called the use of animals in research into question.

Quality metrics in coronary artery bypass grafting.

Studies on the association between care quality, case volume, and outcomes in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) have concluded that consistent adherence to quality measures improves mortality rates and outcomes. However, the quality metrics are not well-defined, and their significance to surgeons and healthcare providers remains uncertain. We review the concept of "quality and quality metrics" and discuss their importance in the context of CABG.