I am a Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology and Environmental Health at the University at Buffalo, and I hold both a clinical appointment and an administrative position at the VA WNY Healthcare System. Aside from overseeing the Research operation at the VA Western New York, I attend and supervise the sleep clinic at the VA.
My research focuses on the association between sleep apnea and cardiovascular diseases. My laboratory examines the burden of oxidative stress on endothelial function and the link to endothelial apoptosis. As part of a VA merit review grant, we are engaged in determining the impact of obstructive sleep apnea on the manifestations of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in veterans and whether treatment of sleep apnea alleviates the debilitating symptoms of PTSD. Toward that goal, we have adopted a patented screening tool to identify patients with sleep apnea.
My research in the critical care arena involves the epidemiology and risk factors of the newly emergent COVID-19. In addition, I continue to participate in a collaborative study on examining virulent factors of Pseudomonas infections with type III secretory system. The goal is to develop a rapid diagnostic tool to identify these organisms early in the course of infection. My other projects include studying the role of adjuvant treatment with corticosteroids in the management of severe community acquired pneumonia, such as nursing home acquired pneumonia, the management of morbidly obese critically ill patients and the long-term outcomes of elderly patients after treatment from a critical care ailment.
Education and Training:
MPH, Public Health, Medical College of Wisconsin (2002)
MD, Medicine, American University of Beirut, Lebanon (1989)
American University of Beirut, Lebanon (1985)
Employment:
Lead VISN2, Research Advisory Council, VHA (2020-present)
Data Safety, Monitoring Board, Clinical Service R&D, VHA (2017-present)
Professor of Anesthesiology, Anesthesiology, University at Buffalo (2011-present)
Research Professor of Epidemiology & Environmental Health, School of Public Health & Health Professions, University at Buffalo (2011-present)
Associate Fellowship Director, Sleep Medicine, University at Buffalo (2008-present)
Director, Western New York Respiratory Research Center, University at Buffalo (2001-present)
Associate Program Director, Sleep Medicine, Medicine, University at Buffalo
Associate Chief of Staff for Research and Devolpment, VA Western New York Healthcare System (2013-present)
Professor of Medicine, Medicine, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (2011-present)
Research Professor, School of Health Related Professions, University at Buffalo School of Health Related Professions (2007-present)
Director, James P. Nolan Clinical Research Center, University at Buffalo (2001-present)
Attending Physician, Buffalo General Hospital (1996-present)
Interim Chief of Staff, VA Western New York Healthcare System (2013–2016)
Barnwell Award Review Panel 2021/05 ZRD1 BARN-A(01) (2021)
Barnwell Award 2020/05 ZRD1 BARN-A(01) (2020)
Visionary Innovator (2012)
Visionary Innovator (2009)
NHLBI Study Section on Clinical Trials (2016-2026)
Research Expertise:
Health care associated pneumonia
Morbid obesity in the intensive care unit
Sleep disordered breathing in cardiovascular disease
Grants and Sponsored Research:
May 2019–May 2024 Effectiveness of Combining Behavioral and Pharmacologic Therapy for Complex Insomnia in Veterans With PTSD (PRECEPT-D) US Department of Veterans Affairs Role: Principal Investigator
October 2012–September 2015 A Randomized study comparing CPAP to oral appliance in patients with PTSD and sleep apnea US Department of Veterans Affairs Role: Principal Investigator
January 2010–January 2015 Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of Low-Dose Methylprednisolone in Hospitalized Veterans with Severe Community-Acquired Pneumonia. VA Cooperative study Program #574. Veterans Affairs Role: Principal Investigator
May 2011–May 2013 VA Cooperative Study No. 574ESCAPe [Extended Steroid (in) CAP(e)] Veterans Administration Role: Principal Investigator
January 2010–January 2011 Sleep apnea screening in patients with ischemic cardiac diseases. HSR&D Merit Review: PPO 10-087-1 US Department of Veterans Affairs Role: Principal Investigator
January 1999–December 2000 Obstructive sleep apnea in ischemic heart disease Research for Health in Erie County Role: Principal Investigator
January 1998–December 1999 The use of neural network in the diagnosis of sleep apnea Research for Health in Erie County Role: Principal Investigator
January 2007 Tigecycline Inhibits Staphylococcal Exotoxin-Induced Cytokines: An Anti-Inflammatory Property. Wyeth Role: Principal Investigator
January 2005 Linezolid In The Treatment Of Subjects With Nosocomial Pneumonia Proven To Be Due To Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus. Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Group. Role: Principal Investigator
Patents:
Articial Network Artificial neural network for predicting respiratory disturbances (1969)
CPAP, titration using artificial neural network
The use of neural networks in identifying patients with Cheyne-Stokes Respiration
Porhomayon J., El Solh AA, Nader N. (2010) National survey to assess the content and availability of difficult airway cart in critical care. Journal of Anesthesia (Jan), 24: 811-814.
Porhomayon J, El Solh AA, Nader ND. (2010) Application of airway pressure release ventilation. Lung (Jan), 188: 87-96.
Porhomayon J, El Solh AA, Nader ND. (2010) Assessment of Cardiac Output Monitoring Devices for Critically ill Surgical Patients. Journal of Trauma, Injury, Infection, and Critical Care (Jan).
El Solh AA, Dhillon RS, Aquilina AT, Ramadan F, Patricia Nowak, Joan Davies. (2002) Impact of Invasive Strategy on Management of Antimicrobial Treatment Failure in Institutionalized Older People with Severe Pneumonia. American Journal Of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (Jul)1038-1043.
Nader ND, Porhomayon J, El Solh AA, Adlparvar G, Jaoude PE. (2015) The impact of high versus low sedation dosin strategy on Post cognitive dysfunction in Survivors of Intensive Care Units: A Systemic Review and Meta-Analysis. Cardiovasc Thorac Res (Jan), 7(2): 43-48.
El Solh AA, Moitheennazima B., Akinnusi M., Churder P., Lafornara A. (2011) Combined oral appliance and positive airway pressure therapy for obstructive sleep apnea: a pilot study. Sleep and Breathing (Jan), 15: 203-208.
El Solh AA, Vora H., Knight III PR, Porhomayon J. (2011) Diagnostic utility of serum procalcitonin levels in pulmonary aspiration syndromes. Critical Care Medicine (Jan), 39: 1251-1256.
El Solh AA, Alhajhusain A., Saliba, Drinka P. (2011) Physicians’ attitudes toward guidelines for the treatment of hospitalized nursing-home acquired pneumonia. . Journal of the American Medical Directors Association (in press) (Jan), 12(4): 270-276.
El Solh AA. (2011) Nursing home acquired pneumonia: approach to management. Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases (Jan), 24: 148-151.
Akinnusi M., Hattemer A., Gao W., El Solh AA. (2011) Linezolid modulation of lung innate immunity in a murine model of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus pneumonia. Critical Care Medicine (Jan), 39: 1944-1952.
El Solh AA, Alhajhusain A., Abou Jaoude P., Drinka P. (2010) Validity of severity scores in hospitalized patients with nursing home acquired pneumonia. Chest (Jan), 138: 1371-1376.
El Solh AA. (2010) The tongue, oral hygiene and prevention of pneumonia in the institutionalized elderly. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association (Jan).
El Solh AA, Jaoude PE. (2010) Bicarbonate therapy in the treatment of septic shock. Internal and Emergency Medicine (Jan), 5: 341-347.
Jaoude PE, Knight P., Ohtake P., El Solh AA. (2010) Biomarkers in the diagnosis of aspiration syndromes. Expert Review of Molecular Diagnostics (Jan), 10: 309-319.
Albertson T., Dean N., El Solh AA, Gotfried M., Kaplan C., Niederman M. (2010) Fluoroquinolones in the management of community-acquired pneumonia. International Journal of Clinical Practice (Jan), 64: 378-388.
El Solh AA, Akinnusi M., Moitheennazima B., Ayyar L., Relia S. (2010) Endothelial function in men with post-CPAP residual sleepiness. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine (Jan), 6: 251-255.
El Solh AA, Niederman M., Drinka P. (2010) Management of pneumonia in the nursing home. Chest (Jan).
El Solh AA. (2010) Infectious pleural effusions can be identified by sTREM-1 levels. Respiratory Medicine (Jan), 104: 310-315.
El Solh AA, Ayyar L., Akinnusi M., Relia S., Akinnusi. (2010) Positive airway adherence in veterans with post traumatic stress disorder. Sleep (Jan), 33: 1495-1500.
El Solh AA. (2009) Nursing home acquired pneumonia. Seminars in Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. (Jan), 30: 16-25.
Lisboa T., Re;;p J., Richart C., Anzueto A., El Solh AA. (2009) Obesity and critical care. Clinical Pulmonary Medicine (Jan), 16: 202-211.
El Solh AA, Amsterdam D., Alhajhusain A., Akinnusi M., Saliba R., Lynch S., Wiener-Kronish J. (2009) Matrix metalloproteases in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of patients with type III Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia. Journal of Infection (Jan), 59: 49-55.
Dellinger R.P., Tomayko J.F., Angus D.C., Opal S., Cupo M.A., McDermott S., Ducher A., Calandra T., Cohen J., El Solh AA. (2009) Lipid Infusion and Patient Outcomes in Sepsis (LIPOS) Investigators. Efficacy and safety of a phospholipid emulsion (GR270773) in Gram-negative severe sepsis: results of a phase II multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled, dose-finding clinical trial. Critical Care Medicine (Jan), 37(11): 2929-2938.
El Solh AA, Akinnusi M., Alfarah Z., Patel A. (2009) Impact of antibiotic guidelines on outcomes of hospitalized patients with nursing home acquired pneumonia. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society (Jan), 77: 25-31.
El Solh AA. (2009) Ceftobiprole: anew broad spectrum cephalosporin. Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy (Jan), 10: 1675-1686.
El Solh AA. (2009) Airway management of patients with obesity. Clinics in Chest Medicine (Jan), 30(3): 555-568.
El Solh AA, Alhajhusain A. (2009) Update on the treatment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy (Jan), 64(2): 229-238.
Saliba R., Paasch L., El Solh AA. (2009) Tigecycline attenuates staphylococcal superantigen-induced T-cell proliferation and production of cytokines and chemokines. Immunopharmacology and Immunotoxicology (Jan), 31(4): 583-588.
El Solh AA, Akinnusi M., Patel A., Bhat A., Ten Brock E. (2009) Predicting optimal CPAP by neural network reduces titration failure: a randomized study. Sleep and Breathing (Jan), 13(4): 325-330.
El Solh AA, Florescu I., Dimov R., Razbadauskas A., Bochan M., Fichev G., Dukart G., Babinchak T., Cooper C. A., Ellis-Grosse E. J., Dartois N., Gandjini H. (2008) 307 Study Group. Efficacy and safety of tigecycline compared with vancomycin or linezolid for treatment of serious infections with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or vancomycin-resistant enterococci: a Phase 3, multicentre, double-blind, rand. J Antimicrob Chemother (Jan), 62(1): i17-i28.
El Solh AA, Schunemann H., Jaesckle R., Cook D., Bria W., Fahy B., Ernst A., Gould M., Horan K., Krishnan J., Manthous C., Maurer J., McNicholas W., Rubenfeld G., Turino G, Guyatt G. on behalf of the ATS Documents and Devel. (2006) Grading the quality of evidence and strength of recommendations in guidelines - An Official ATS Statement. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (Jan), 174: 605-614.
El Solh AA, Aquilina AT, Pineda LA, Dhavantri V., Grant BJ, Bouquin, P. (2006) Noninvasive ventilation for prevention of post extubation respiratory failure in obese patients. European Respiratory (Jan), 28: 588-595.
El Solh AA, Pineda LA, Bouquin, P., Mankowski, C. (2006) Association between inflammatory markers and functional decline after community acquired pneumonia in the elderly: a prospective cohort study. BMC Geriatrics (Jan), 6(12).
El Solh AA, Abdo T., Pineda LA, Ramadan F, Berbary E. (2005) A longitudinal study of idiopathic exudative lymphocytic pleural effusion in the elderly. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society (Nov), 53: 1957-1960.
El Solh AA, Okada M, Pietrantoni C, Aquilina AT, Berbary E. (2004) Procoagulant and fibrinolytic activity in ventilator associated pneumonia: impact of inadequate antimicrobial therapy. Intensive Care Medicine (Jan), 30: 1914-1920.
Nara, W, El Solh AA. (2004) Sleep disorders in morbidly obese. Sleep Review (Jan), 5: 28-32.
El Solh AA, Pietantoni, C, Bhat, A, Okada, M, Zambon M, Aquilina AT, Berbary, E. (2004) Colonization of dental plaques: A reservoir of pathogens for hospital-acquired pneumonia in institutionalized elders. Chest (Jan), 126: 1575-1582.
El Solh AA, Okada, M, Bhat, A, Pietrantoni, C. (2003) Swallowing disorders post orotracheal intubation in the elderly. Intensive Care Medicine (Jan), 29: 1451-1455.
Pietrantoni C., El Solh AA. (2003) Respiratory complications of obesity: Weighty issues. Advance for Managers of Respiratory Care (Jan), 12: 32-36.
El Solh AA, Peitrantoni, C, Bhat, A, Aquilina, T, Okada, M, Grover, V, Gifford, N. (2003) Microbiology of severe aspiration in the elderly. American Journal of Respiratory & Critical Care Medicine (Jan), 167: 1650-1654.
El Solh AA, Bozkanat, E, Roth, M, Mador M, Grant BJ. (2002) Association between plasma endothelian-1 levels and Cheyne-Stokes respiration in patients with congestive heart failure. Chest (Jan), 121: 1928-1934.
El Solh A, Bozkanat E., Mador M, Grant BJ. (2002) Association between plasma endothelin-1 levels and Cheynes–Stokes respiration in patients with congestive heart failure. Chest (Jan), 121: 1928-1934.
El Solh AA, Mador MJ, Sikka P., Roth M., Dhillon RS, Grant BJ. (2002) Adhesion molecules in coronary artery disease patients with sleep apnea. Chest (Jan), 121: 1541-1547.
El Solh AA, Aquilina AT, Dhillon, R., Ramadan F, Nowak, P., Davies, J. (2002) Antimicrobial treatment failure in institutionalized elderly with severe pneumonia. . American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (Jan), 166: 1038-1043.
El Solh AA, Sikka, P, Ramadan F, Davies, J. (2001) Etiology of severe pneumonia in the very elderly. American Journal of Respiratory & Critical Care Medicine (Jan), 163: 645-651.
El Solh AA, Sikka, P, Jaafar, W, Bozkanat, E. (2001) Outcome of critically obese patients admitted to the medical intensive care unit. Chest (Jan), 120: 1989-1997.
El Solh AA, Sikka, P, Ramadan F. (2001) Outcome of severe pneumonia in the elderly predicted by recursive partitioning. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society (Jan), 49: 1614-1621.
Sikka, P, Jaafar, W, Bozkanat, E, El Solh AA. (2000) A comparison of severity of illness scoring systems for elderly patients with severe pneumonia. Intensive Care Medicine (Jan), 26: 1803-1810.
El Solh AA, Sikka, P, Draw, A. (2000) Pulmonary and Critical Pearls: A 58 y/o woman with recurrent productive cough and diarrhea. Chest (Jan), 118: 1194-1197.
El Solh AA, Mador MJ, Tenbrock E, Shucard DW, Abul-Khoudoud, M, Grant BJ. (1999) Validity of an artificial neural network in predicting sleep apnea. Sleep (Jan), 22: 105-111.
El Solh AA, Hsiao CB, Goodnough, S, Serghani, J, Grant BJ. (1999) Predicting active pulmonary tuberculosis using an artificial neural network. Chest (Jan), 116: 968-973.
El Solh AA, Nopper, J, Sherif, A, Aquilina AT, Grant BJ. (1998) Comparison of clinical and radiographic manifestations of uncommon nontuberculous myocobacterial disease in AIDS patients. Chest (Jan), 114: 138-145.
El Solh A, Joseph Mylotte, Sherif S, Serghani J, Brydon Grant. (1997) Validity of a decision tree for predicting active pulmonary tuberculosis from clinical and radiographic data. Am J Respir Crit Care Med (May), 155(5): 1711-1716.
El Solh AA. (1997) Poorly differentiated carcinoma of the mediastinum: A case of germ cell tumor. Resident & Staff Physician (Jan), 43(9): 31-39.
El Solh AA, Grant BJ. (1996) A comparison of severity of illness scoring systems for critically ill obstetric patients. Chest (Nov), 110(5): 1299-1304.
Provost K, El Solh AA. (2012) Principles and Practice of Mechanical Ventilation. In: Complications Associated with Mechanical Ventilation. McGraw-Hill
El Solh AA. (2010) Anaerobic infections. In: Anaerobic infections. Book chapter in Encyclopedia of Intensive Care Medicine. (In press). Vincent and Hall (Eds).
El Solh AA. (2010) Health Care Associated Pneumonia. In: Health Care Associated Pneumonia. Book chapter in Respiratory Infections. Informa, Health Care
El Solh AA. (2010) What are the special considerations in the management of the morbidly obese patients in the ICU?. In: What are the special considerations in the management of the morbidly obese patients in the ICU? Book Chapter in The Evidenced Based Practice of Critical Care. In Press. Neligan and Deutshman
El Solh AA. (2006) Aspiration syndromes (chapter of Respiratory Emergencies). Fine, Kamholz, Ost eds. Hodder Co..
Shucard D., Parmenter B., El Solh AA. (2006) Computer Analysis of Sleep. In: Computer Analysis of Sleep. Chapter in Encyclopedia of Medical Devices and Instrumentation, 2nd Edition. Webster J, Ed. John Wiley & Sons, 213-224.
Abstracts:
El Solh AA, Sikka P., Davies J., Aquilina AT, Naughton BJ, Ramadan F, Grant BJ. (2000) Etiology of severe pneumonia requiring mechanical ventilation in the elderly. (abstract). Am J Respir Crit Care Med, (Jan)
El Solh AA, Mylotte JM, Sherif S., Serghani J., Aquilina AT, Hsiao CB, Grant BJ. (1999) Prediction of active pulmonary tuberculosis using artificial neural network. (abstract). Am J Respir Crit Care Med, (Jan)
El Solh AA, Hsiao CB, Goodnough S., Grant BJ. (1999) Outcome of patients with Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteremia predicted by recursive partitioning. (abstract). Chest, (Jan)
Ten Brock E, El Solh AA, Miller M., Schnapp M., Graham S., Houck J., Grant BJ. (1998) The effect of partial ventriculectomy on exercise capacity and quality of life in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy. (abstract). Chest, (Jan)
El Solh AA, Mador MJ, Ten Brock E, Shucard D, Grant BJ. (1998) Validity of an artificial neural network in predicting sleep apnea. (abstract). Am J Respir Crit Care Med, (Jan)
El Solh AA, Mylotte JM, Sherif S., Serghani J., Grant BJ. (1997) Validity of decision tree for predicting active pulmonary tuberculosis from clinical and radiographic data. (abstract). Am J Respir Crit Care Med, (Jan)
Grant BJ, El Solh AA, Stein P.D. (1997) Artificial neural network for diagnosis of acute pulmonary embolism. (abstract). Am J Respir Crit Care Med, (Jan)
El Solh AA, Nopper J., Sherif S., Aquilina AT, Grant BJ. (1997) Comparison of clinical and radiographic manifestations of uncommon nontuberculous mycobacterial disease in AIDS patients. (abstract). Am J Respir Crit Care Med, (Jan)
El Solh AA, Grant BJ. (1996) A comparison of severity of illness scoring systems for critically ill obstetric patients. (abstract). Am J Respir Crit Care Med, (Jan)
Kumar M.N., El Solh AA, Nair M.P.N., Schwartz SA, Lwebuga-Mukasa JS. (1995) Induction of protooncogenes and apoptosis in uninfected lung alveolar epithelial cells by HIV-1 derived peptides. (abstract). Great Lakes Lung Conference, Ontario, Canada., (Jan)
El Solh AA, Stubeusz D.L., Grant BJ. (1995) Outcome of patients with AIDS requiring mechanical ventilation predicted by recursive partitioning. (abstract). Am J Respir Crit Care Med, (Jan)
El Solh AA, Kumar N.M., Lwebuga-Mukasa JS. (1995) HIV-1 derived peptides modulate expression of protooncogenes in human bronchoalveolar carcinoma cell line, A549. (abstract). Am J Respir Crit Care Med, (Jan)
Kumar, N.M., El Solh AA, Schwartz SA, Lwebuga-Mukasa JS. (1994) HIV-1 TAT and GP120-derived peptides modulate rat lung alveolar epithelial cell protooncogenes, and cytokine gene expression. (Abstract). Great Lakes Lung Conference, Ontario, Canada, (Jan)