Wallingford mosque classified as assembly hall

WALLINGFORD, CT-In a significant development a town attorney in Wallingford had stated that a mosque would fall within the definition of an “an assembly hall.” The designation came after a local Muslim businessman unveiled plans for a 3,868 square-foot mosque in the town. As is usual the case, the move was immediately opposed by neighbors citing traffic and parking concerns.

The Planning and Zoning Commission has been considering how to classify the proposal, since mosques are not specifically listed in the town’s zoning regulations.

Farid’s application based its parking requirements on the town’s zoning standards for assembly halls with no fixed seating, which require one parking space for every 50 square feet.

The town attorney wrote that a mosque would fall within the definition of assembly hall, since Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary states that an assembly could be a group of people who worship together.

The town commission will consider the mosque plan on Sept. 8.

Dr.Salim Yusuf leads breakthrough study

TORONTO–An international study led by McMaster University  researcher Dr.Salim Yusuf has found that telmisartan, a medication used to lower blood pressure, reduced the outcome of cardiovascular death, heart attack or stroke in people who are unable to tolerate a widely available and effective standard treatment.
Research results were published online by The Lancet and presented at this year’s European Society of Cardiology Congress in Munich, Germany on the weekend.

ACE inhibitors, or angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors, are widely used and effective medications used to lower blood pressure. They work by helping to widen blood vessels to improve blood flow. Approximately 20 per cent of patients who could benefit from an ACE inhibitor stop taking it because of cough, kidney problems, swelling or symptomatic low blood pressure.

Telmisartan is a type of angiotensin-receptor blocker, or ARB. Like ACE inhibitors, telmisartan also lowers blood pressure, but works in a different manner. ARBs block the receptor sites in the body for angiotensin II, a naturally occurring hormone that constricts blood vessels and increases blood pressure.

“The TRANSCEND study demonstrates the value of telmisartan in people who are unable to tolerate angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors,” said Yusuf, principal investigator and director of the Population Health Research Institute at McMaster University.

“Although the benefit is of moderate size, there is an impact on a range of outcomes including the composite of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction and strokes, as well as cardiovascular hospitalizations. Given the large proportion of people who are unable to tolerate an ACE inhibitor, the use of telmisartan would be clinically important.”

Ali Zarzour appointed Eclipsys VP

ATLANTA, GA-Eclipsys Corporation has announced that Ali Zarzour has been appointed to the new role of vice president and general manager of Middle East Operations. In this capacity, Mr. Zarzour will lead Eclipsys’ regional market strategy and business operations in the Middle East marketplace, including a comprehensive recruitment process for world-class professionals from throughout the region in support of the company’s business development efforts. He reports directly to John Gomez, Eclipsys’ executive vice president and chief technology officer of International Operations.

Mr. Zarzour brings to his position extensive insight and experience in managing Middle East business operations for healthcare technology suppliers. He joins Eclipsys from Microsoft Corporation, where for six years as a healthcare industry manager he served in a variety of leadership capacities in support of creating and growing the healthcare business for the company in the Middle East and Africa. In this role he contributed to the global business in the areas of strategy and major wins, while forging strategic government and partner alliances, and championing the healthcare technology modernization efforts ongoing in the Middle East.

Before joining Microsoft Corporation, Mr. Zarzour participated in the technology boom of the region by starting a number of companies, including Vertscape Inc., Dubai, United Arab Emirates, a unique provider of extended enterprise relationship management solutions based on .Net and Web services.
Previous corporate experience includes tenure with Future Technology Systems Ltd. Mr. Zarzour holds a master of business administration degree from the University of Warwick, Coventry, UK, and a bachelor of science degree in economics from Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI.

Vermont’s Muslim population growing

It’s estimated that more than 2,000 Muslims are living in Vermont. They represent a wide variety of traditions, from Burlington’s Somali-Bantu women with their flowing hijabs, to those whose religion isn’t necessarily visible on the outside,reports the Vermont Public Radio.

Tariq Khan Appointed Senior VP For ING

ING announced that it has hired Tariq Khan as Senior Vice President to head market development and multicultural initiatives for its U.S. Wealth Management Wholesale Distribution division. In that role, Khan will develop and implement ING’s strategy to expand growing diverse markets, especially multicultural business in its corporate, fixed and variable annuity markets.

He will report directly to Bill Lowe, President of the ING U.S. Wealth Management’s Wholesale Distribution division.

Previously, Khan served as Vice President for Market Development and Diversity at Nationwide, where he was responsible for enhancing Nationwide’s presence in the diverse markets including overseeing strategic planning, advertising and brand management, market development and recruiting efforts for all multi-channel retail distribution. Prior to Nationwide, Khan was Vice President of Marketing at MetLife where he was in charge of all multicultural segments including Hispanic, African-American and Asian markets.

“Tariq’s tremendous experience in developing the growing multicultural markets will allow ING to expand our reach to an even broader portion of the overall market,” said Lowe. “The United States is more diverse than it has ever been, and it is critical that we’re thoughtful and deliberate about tapping this fast-growing segment of the market. With the right approach, we can make it easier for individuals to save and prepare for retirement and their other financial goals.”

“I am truly excited to be joining ING, a well-respected global brand in the wealth management arena,” said Tariq Khan. “The face of America is changing and creating huge opportunities for all of us and my role will be critical in taking advantage of these opportunities. I’m looking forward to working with ING’s leadership and diverse talent to build an infrastructure that will take our business to a new level.”

Khan earned a bachelor’s degree in international marketing and advertising from Baruch College, and a master’s degree in business administration in marketing and management from St. John’s University. He is an assistant Vice Chair and Director of the Asian and Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund, one of the largest U.S. organizations devoted to scholarships for Asian and Pacific Islander American students. He is a frequent speaker at many industry conferences on marketing and diversity.

ING is a global financial institution of Dutch origin offering banking, investments, retirement services and life insurance to over 85 million private, corporate and institutional clients in more than 50 countries. With a diverse workforce of over 130,000 people, ING comprises a broad spectrum of prominent companies that increasingly serve their clients under the ING brand.

Imam’s cross-Canada walk reaches Alberta

CALGARY–Calgary Imam Syed Soharwardy reached an emotional milestone in his cross-Canada Multi-Faith Walk Against Violence  last week.

At 7:30 a.m., Soharwardy crossed the Saskatchewan-Alberta border, setting off an impromptu celebration.

“It was absolutely the greatest feeling I’ve had during the whole walk,” said Soharwardy, 53.

I felt like I was coming home.”

Soharwardy began his walk April 20 in Halifax and has since covered more than 5,000 kilometres. He’s hoping the walk draws attention to the scourge of violence, both in domestic and international settings.

“I’m expecting a number of pastors and lay people from Christian churches in the Medicine Hat and Redcliff areas to join me walking,” he said.

The imam is targeting a Calgary arrival for next Thursday. Representatives from a number of city faith communities are expected to join him as he nears the city limits.

An interfaith rally is planned for Sept. 6 outside the Eau Claire Market.

With next week’s start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which requires fasting from sunrise to sunset, Soharwardy says he’ll alter his walking schedule to conform to the personal discipline required. He’s hoping to reach Victoria by late October or November.

New Halal slaughterhouse planned in New Hampshire

MANCHESTER,Sep.02,2008 (News Agencies)–A businessman in the state of New Hampshire is planning to build a slaughterhouse which will fulfill the requirements of Halal.  The 1500 square feet facility will be built in Goffstown pending approval from authorities.

About fifty to sixty animals will be slaughtered at the facility. The plans have run into stiff competition from neighbors who have raised noise and other environmental concerns.

New Hamspire has a tiny but growing Muslim population.

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By Steve Holland

ST. PAUL (Reuters) – John McCain and his fellow Republicans rallied behind his vice presidential pick, Sarah Palin, on Tuesday and his campaign accused Democrat Barack Obama of sexism for questioning her level of experience.

The support came as the Republican convention to nominate McCain and Palin as the party’s candidates was finally getting started, after a delay due to Hurricane Gustav, with President George W. Bush to speak via satellite hookup.

Palin’s disclosure that her unmarried 17-year-old daughter is pregnant and the news that she had hired a private lawyer in an ethics probe in Alaska have triggered a media firestorm and led some to question McCain’s judgment and how thoroughly the relatively unknown governor’s background was examined before she was selected last week.

In excerpts of his remarks, Bush cited McCain’s national security experience as justification for electing him on November 4 over Democrat Barack Obama.
And he backed Palin on a day Palin was behind closed doors in St. Paul preparing for an address she will give to the convention on Wednesday.

The McCain camp issued a photo of Palin meeting Bush’s wife, Laura, and McCain’s wife, Cindy.

“When the debates have ended, and all the ads have run, and it is time to vote, Americans will look closely at the judgment, the experience, and the policies of the candidates — and they will cast their ballots for the McCain-Palin ticket,” Bush said.

McCain predicted a warm welcome for Palin when she addressed the convention. “America’s excited and they’re going to be even more excited once they see her tomorrow night,” McCain told reporters in Cleveland. “I’m very, very proud of the impression that she’s made on all of America and I’m looking forward to serving with her.”

In Philadelphia, he defended his search. “My vetting process was completely thorough and I’m grateful for the results,” McCain said.

McCain’s campaign fought back hard after Obama told CNN on Monday that Palin’s level of experience as a former mayor of tiny Wasilla, Alaska, did not match his own, citing the size of his campaign.

“My understanding is that Gov. Palin’s town, Wasilla, has I think 50 employees. We’ve got 2,500 in this campaign. I think their budget is maybe $12 million dollars a year — we have a budget of about three times that just for the month,” Obama had said.

McCain adviser Carly Fiorina accused him of sexism, a charge the Obama camp faced during Democrat Hillary Clinton’s primary battle against him.

“The facts are that Sarah Palin has made more executive decisions as a mayor and governor than Barack Obama has made in his life,” Fiorina said.

“Because of Hillary Clinton’s historic run for the presidency and the treatment she received, American women are more highly tuned than ever to recognize and decry sexism in all its forms. They will not tolerate sexist treatment of Gov. Palin,” Fiorina said.

The McCain campaign released a copy of Palin’s Republican voter registration card to rebut a report in The New York Times that Palin was a member of the Alaskan Independence Party for two years in the 1990s. The group has sought a vote on whether the state should secede from the United States.

“The allegations that Gov. Palin was a member of (the) Alaska Independence Party are false. She’s never been a member of the Alaska Independence Party,” said McCain spokesman Brian Rogers.

When Palin was announced on Friday, Republicans welcomed her entry into the presidential race against Obama and Joe Biden in the November 4 election as bringing a burst of energy to the McCain campaign.

They like her anti-abortion, pro-guns stances and her history of government reform in Alaska in her two years as governor.

There was every indication McCain and other Republicans would stand by only the second woman ever picked as a major party’s vice presidential nominee, despite the hubbub.

“He absolutely keeps her,” said Larry Sabato, a political science professor at the University of Virginia. “If he drops her, the election is over. There’s zero chance that he’ll drop her.”

Bush was the headliner among Tuesday’s speakers, who also included former Sen. Fred Thompson, who lost to McCain in the Republican primaries, and close McCain ally Sen. Joe Lieberman, a Democrat-turned-independent from Connecticut.

McCain campaign manager Rick Davis said the timing of Palin’s speech was not yet set. He would not comment on whether she would use it to address any of the controversies surrounding her.

But her remarks will be “the most important speech the nominee will give in the course of the election” because of the large television audience, he said.

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By Syed Aslam

Abu Qasim ibn al-Zahrawi  also known in west as Abulcasis was born in the town of al-Zahra, close to Cordoba, Spain, in the year 993CE. His ancestors were Ansar Arabs who settled in Spain in the eighth century. He lived most of his life in Cordoba, where he received his education. After his education he taught and practiced medicine and surgery in Cordoba and became the physician of Caliph al-Hakim II.  He died at Cordoba in the year 1064 CE. The street where he lived is named after him (Calle Albucasis), and his house has been preserved by the Spanish Government in his honor.

Al-Zahrawi is considered the father of modern surgery. A physician and surgeon, he also had an interest in chemistry and cosmetology. His 30 volume encyclopedia of medical practices Kitab al-Tasrif is considered his greatest contribution in the field of medicine and surgery. The encyclopedia included a large section on surgery and also covered medical topics such as orthopedics, pharmacology, ophthalmology, nutrition, dentistry and childbirth.

Al-Zahrawi emphasized the importance of a good doctor patient relationship and took great care to ensure the safety of his patients and win their trust irrespective of their social status. His clinical methods showed  foresight and  promoted the close observation of  patients. He warned against dubious practices adopted by some physicians for purposes of material gain and warned against deviation from medical ethics.  He also cautioned against quacks who claimed surgical skills they did not possess. His treatise contains many original observations of great interest in the field of medicine.  He has given great importance to the causes and symptoms of  diseases.

Two volumes of his treatise are very important, dealing with materia medica, like weights, measures, and drug substitution.   In the area of pharmacology and therapeutics he  discussed cardiac drugs, emetics, laxatives, cosmetology etc. In other treatise he describes the preparations of medicine by the extraction from different herbs, tablet making, chemical preparation of medicine and other related pharmaceutical techniques which included sublimation and distillation.

The most important treatise is the one which deals with surgery and surgical instruments.  This monumental work was unique, in it al-Zahrawi provided illustrations of the instruments used in surgery. He invented all the instruments himself, two hundred of them, and explained their use. The instruments included tooth extractors, tong depressors, catheters, and an elaborate obstetric device, to name a few. He discussed a variety of operations which included cauterization, bloodletting, midwifery, obstetrics and the treatment of wounds.

He described the exposure and division of the temporal artery to relieve certain types of headaches, and the extraction of cataracts from the eyes. He wrote extensively about injuries of bones and joints,  fractures of the nasal bones, and the vertebrae. In fact ‘Kocher’s method’ for fixing a dislocated shoulder was explained by al-Zahrawi long before Kocher was even born. He outlined the use of caustics in surgery, fully described tonsillectomy and tracheotomy operations he had performed. He explained how to use a hook to extract a polyp from the nose, how to use a bulb syringe he had invented for giving enemas to children, how to use a metallic bladder syringe and speculum  to extract bladder stones. He discussed of non-aligned teeth and showed a way to correct them. He also developed the technique of replacing defective teeth with artificial teeth.

Al-Zahrawi was the first to describe the  Welcher position in obstetrics, first to describe dental arches,  first to explain the hereditary circumstances surrounding hemophilia, first to write about ectopic pregnancy and the first to use forceps which he invented for the delivery  of babies and removal of a dead fetus.

Al-Zahrawi invented the surgical needle, and described its use. He used catgut (cord made from intestines of sheep and goat) for the first time for internal stitching–which is still used in modern surgery. Catgut is the only natural substance capable of dissolving and acceptable to the human body.

There is no doubt that al-Zahrawi was a rare genius in the field of medicine. His treatise was translated into Latin in the 12th century and became the standard book in the universities of Europe for 500 years. His book was the primary source of medical knowledge of surgery  for the physicians of Europe and thus had a huge  influence on them in the practice of surgery. A 14th century French surgeon–Guy de Chauliac–quoted Al-Tasrif over 200 times in his book; The Great Surgery. Pietro Argallata, a 15th century European surgeon, says of him “without doubt he was the chief of all surgeons.” Jaques Delechamps, another 16th century French surgeon made extensive use of his treatise in his elaborate commentary, confirming the tremendous contributions of al-Zahrawi in the field of surgery.

Aslamsyed1@yahoo.com

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