Subgroup analyses were performed based on gender, smoking, hypertension and diabetes mellitus, and the results showed that there were no significant differences in the aortic VCAM-1 expression levels between male (n=26) and female (n=8) atherosclerotic patients (0.21±0.04 vs. 0.22±0.07 OD units, P>0.05); however, the aortic VCAM-1 expression levels in smokers were significantly higher (n=18, 0.24±0.05 OD units) than those in non-smokers (n=16, 0.20±0.08 OD units) (P<0.05). The gene discussed is VCAM1; the disease is diabetes mellitus.