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IntroductionIsfahan functional disorders (ISFUN) cohort study aims to describe the interplay of genetic and environmental factors in shaping the characteristics of functional somatic syndromes (FSS). This study is primarily intended to investigate the epidemiology, risk factors, course and prognosis of FSSs in a sample of adult Iranian population. The other aim is to develop a new delimitation of FSSs based on an integrated multidisciplinary approach comprising of phenotypic and multiomics data.Methods and analysisISFUN is a population-based prospective cohort study designed to follow a population of randomly selected seemingly healthy adults (18–65 years) through annual visits during a 4-year observation period. Structured questionnaires are used for data collection and clinical assessment of the participants. Questionnaire-based diagnosis of FSSs are validated in a medical interview. Human DNA genotyping, microbial amplicon sequencing and urine analysis is under progress for genomics, microbiota and metabolomics profiling, respectively. Enrolment began in September 2017, and study completion is expected in 2022. A total number of 1943 participants were initially recruited.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval for data collection was granted by the National Research Ethics Committee of the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education and the Research Ethics Committee of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences (IR.MUI.REC.1395.1.149). Following the description of the study procedure, we obtained written informed consent from all study participants. Study findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and presentations at scientific meetings.

The purpose of this study was to examine whether the degree of air trapping in high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) of patients with histories of sulfur mustard gas exposure during suspended full expiration correlated with various parameters of the cardiopulmonary exercise test as the gold standard for assessment of pulmonary function.In this analytic study 75 male patients, each with a history of sulfur mustard gas exposure, were investigated. Each participant underwent an incremental cardiopulmonary exercise test, pulmonary function test and arterial oxygen saturation for hemoglobin measurement. For HRCT examination, both lungs were divided into three parts (upper, middle, and lower) and in each part images were separately observed from the involved area point of view (25% ≤6/24;25% ≥6/24).A total of 49.3% of the patients (37/75) had evidence of air trapping in over 25% of their lung segments. The mean age±SD in the patients with air trapping of =25% or25% were 41.1±6.8 and 39.7±4.0 years, respectively (P=0.281). In our study there was no significant difference in pulmonary function test findings (FEV1, FVC and FEV1/FVC) between the two groups. There was no significant correlation with air trapping of =25% and any of the exercise test parameters. Also, no correlation was found between significant air trapping and exercise test findings in maximum exercise and anaerobic situations.No correlation was found between HRCT and cardiopulmonary exercise test findings. HRCT is neither pathognomic of the disease nor a good predictor of disease severity but it might be suggestive of mustard lung injuries.