The Marwani Musalla in Jerusalem: New Findings

Shortly after Caliph ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab’s (579-644, caliph 634-644) arrival in Jerusalem in 638, he is said to have constructed a rudimentary mosque or prayer space south of the historical Rock now contained within the Dome of the Rock (completed 691) on the former Temple Mount or Bayt al-Maqdis known popularly since Mamluk and Ottoman times as the Haram al-Sharif. Though later textual evidence indicates that ‘Umar prayed somewhere south of the “rock” and later scholars suggest that he constructed a rudimentary prayer space on the site, there is no surviving physical evidence of that initial structure. After his appointment as Governor of Syria (bilad al-sham) by ‘Umar in 639/40, Mu‘awiya ibn Abi Sufyan (602-680, caliph 660-680) either expanded upon the Mosque of ‘Umar or constructed an entirely new mosque in Jerusalem between 640 and 660. This mosque was completed in time for his investiture in that mosque in 660 as the first Umayyad caliph. This article proposes that the seventh-century mosque of Jerusalem constructed between 640-660 has survived to today and that the official entrance to that mosque and the Bayt al-Maqdis precinct was the centrally placed eastern gate. Further, it will be demonstrated that there were four entrances to this mosque, one ceremonial and public from the east, leading to a northern entrance to the prayer space, a second public entrance and a third private entrance, both from south of the city. The physical evidence from the site itself, the newly established presence of Islamic rule in Jerusalem, and the persistence of religious memory of the earlier significance of the site contributed to the location of this mosque in the southeastern quadrant of the sanctuary. The building is variously known historically as masjid qadim, aqsa, Solomon’s Stables and is today the Marwani Musalla (prayer space)

Outcomes from elective colorectal cancer surgery during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic

This study aimed to describe the change in surgical practice and the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on mortality after surgical resection of colorectal cancer during the initial phases of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic

Elective cancer surgery in COVID-19-free surgical pathways during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: An international, multicenter, comparative cohort study

PURPOSE As cancer surgery restarts after the first COVID-19 wave, health care providers urgently require data to determine where elective surgery is best performed. This study aimed to determine whether COVID-19–free surgical pathways were associated with lower postoperative pulmonary complication rates compared with hospitals with no defined pathway. PATIENTS AND METHODS This international, multicenter cohort study included patients who underwent elective surgery for 10 solid cancer types without preoperative suspicion of SARS-CoV-2. Participating hospitals included patients from local emergence of SARS-CoV-2 until April 19, 2020. At the time of surgery, hospitals were defined as having a COVID-19–free surgical pathway (complete segregation of the operating theater, critical care, and inpatient ward areas) or no defined pathway (incomplete or no segregation, areas shared with patients with COVID-19). The primary outcome was 30-day postoperative pulmonary complications (pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, unexpected ventilation). RESULTS Of 9,171 patients from 447 hospitals in 55 countries, 2,481 were operated on in COVID-19–free surgical pathways. Patients who underwent surgery within COVID-19–free surgical pathways were younger with fewer comorbidities than those in hospitals with no defined pathway but with similar proportions of major surgery. After adjustment, pulmonary complication rates were lower with COVID-19–free surgical pathways (2.2% v 4.9%; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.62; 95% CI, 0.44 to 0.86). This was consistent in sensitivity analyses for low-risk patients (American Society of Anesthesiologists grade 1/2), propensity score–matched models, and patients with negative SARS-CoV-2 preoperative tests. The postoperative SARS-CoV-2 infection rate was also lower in COVID-19–free surgical pathways (2.1% v 3.6%; aOR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.36 to 0.76). CONCLUSION Within available resources, dedicated COVID-19–free surgical pathways should be established to provide safe elective cancer surgery during current and before future SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks

Elective Cancer Surgery in COVID-19-Free Surgical Pathways During the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: An International, Multicenter, Comparative Cohort Study.

PURPOSE: As cancer surgery restarts after the first COVID-19 wave, health care providers urgently require data to determine where elective surgery is best performed. This study aimed to determine whether COVID-19-free surgical pathways were associated with lower postoperative pulmonary complication rates compared with hospitals with no defined pathway. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This international, multicenter cohort study included patients who underwent elective surgery for 10 solid cancer types without preoperative suspicion of SARS-CoV-2. Participating hospitals included patients from local emergence of SARS-CoV-2 until April 19, 2020. At the time of surgery, hospitals were defined as having a COVID-19-free surgical pathway (complete segregation of the operating theater, critical care, and inpatient ward areas) or no defined pathway (incomplete or no segregation, areas shared with patients with COVID-19). The primary outcome was 30-day postoperative pulmonary complications (pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, unexpected ventilation). RESULTS: Of 9,171 patients from 447 hospitals in 55 countries, 2,481 were operated on in COVID-19-free surgical pathways. Patients who underwent surgery within COVID-19-free surgical pathways were younger with fewer comorbidities than those in hospitals with no defined pathway but with similar proportions of major surgery. After adjustment, pulmonary complication rates were lower with COVID-19-free surgical pathways (2.2% v 4.9%; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.62; 95% CI, 0.44 to 0.86). This was consistent in sensitivity analyses for low-risk patients (American Society of Anesthesiologists grade 1/2), propensity score-matched models, and patients with negative SARS-CoV-2 preoperative tests. The postoperative SARS-CoV-2 infection rate was also lower in COVID-19-free surgical pathways (2.1% v 3.6%; aOR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.36 to 0.76). CONCLUSION: Within available resources, dedicated COVID-19-free surgical pathways should be established to provide safe elective cancer surgery during current and before future SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks

Archaeology & Preservation of Early Islamic Jerusalem: Revealing the 7th Century Mosque on the Haram Al-Sharif

After becoming Governor of Syria in 639/40, Mu\u27awiya I either expanded a mosque of the Caliph \u27Umar (638) or constructed a new mosque from Roman and Byzantine spolia in adaptive reuse on the former Temple Mount, Bayt al-Maqdis (7th century) and now the Haram al-Sharif. This mosque was completed for his investiture in that mosque in 660 as the first Umayyad Caliph. Isam Awwad (Chief Architect & Conservator of the Haram 1972-2004) and I proposed elsewhere that this mosque survives to today as the Marwani Musalla (1996) and that the Golden Gate on the eastern Haram wall was the royal ceremonial entrance to the mosque courtyard. This paper summarizes and expands this thesis to include analysis of the multiple entrances to the mosque and the compound. . The Musalla also known as ‘Solomon’s Stables was designated a musalla or prayer space in the 1990’s to expand the enclosed prayer areas of the Haram. It also occurred at a time of considerable pressure from Israeli archaeological pursuit of control of the space. This paper will emphasize the evidence provided by Israeli archaeology in assisting to identify the site as early Islamic and in the Awqaf’s revealing and preservation of the major 7th century north entrance and spatial interior now identified as the Mosque of Mu\u27awiya. We further propose that, prior to his death in 680, Mu\u27awiya quite possibly planned and began construction of the Dome of the Rock. We will expand this thesis in an upcoming article

Dry Eye Disease in the Middle East and Northern Africa: A Position Paper on the Current State and Unmet Needs

Sihem Lazreg,1 Mohamed Hosny,2 Muhammad A Ahad,3 Mazen M Sinjab,4 Riadh Messaoud,5 Shady T Awwad,6 Antoine Rousseau7 1Ophthalmology Cabinet, Blida, Algeria; 2Refractive and Cornea Service, Cairo University Hospitals, Cairo, Egypt; 3Department of Ophthalmology, Anterior Segment Division, King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 4Dr Sulaiman Al Habib Hospital, DHCC, Dubai, United Arab Emirates; 5Department of Ophthalmology, Tahar SFAR University Hospital, Mahdia, Tunisia; 6Department of Ophthalmology, American University of Beirut - Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon; 7Department of Ophthalmology, Bicêtre Hospital, Paris-Saclay University, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, FranceCorrespondence: Antoine Rousseau, Pierre Testas Building, Bicêtre Hospital, 78 Rue du Général Leclerc, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, 94270, France, Tel +33145213690, Email [email protected]: In the Middle East and Northern Africa (MENA), dry eye disease (DED) is often misdiagnosed or overlooked. This review summarizes a series of conversations with ophthalmologists in the region around a variety of climatic, lifestyle, and iatrogenic factors that contribute to specific features of DED in the MENA region. These considerations are further classified by patient lifestyle and surgical choices. All statements are based on discussions and formal voting to achieve consensus over three meetings. Overall, a deeper understanding of the disease characteristics of DED specific to MENA can better guide local eyecare practitioners on appropriate management and follow-up care. Additionally, population-based studies and patient and physician education on ocular surface diseases, together with the use of culturally appropriate and language-specific questionnaires can help ease the public health burden of DED in this region.Keywords: ocular surface, regional clinical practice, epidemiology, treatment, patient outcome