Furthermore, the aortic VCAM-1 expression levels were significantly higher in atherosclerotic patients with either hypertension (n=20, 0.22±0.06 OD units) or diabetes mellitus (n=11, 0.23±0.07 OD units), compared with those in non-hypertensive (n=14, 0.18±0.09 OD units) and non-diabetic (n=23, 0.19±0.08 OD units) patients, respectively (P<0.05) (Fig. 3). The gene discussed is VCAM1; the disease is diabetes mellitus.