Decreased serum osteocalcin indicated high risk for carotid atherosclerotic plaques (OR 1.77 for 1 SD decrease in osteocalcin, 95% CI 1.23-2.76, p=0.005), after adjustment for age, gender, smoking, alcohol drinking, duration of diabetes, BMI, waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, serum osteocalcin, HOMA-IR, CRP, fasting plasma glucose, serum creatinine, serum urea, serum cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL-c and LDL-c. The gene discussed is CRP; the disease is diabetes mellitus.