RETN and carotid atherosclerosis: With more severe carotid atherosclerosis, circulating levels of resistin (mild: 2.01 ± 0.23; moderate: 2.89 ± 1.01; severe: 3.12 ± 1.12; p < 0.05) and visfatin (mild: 11.63 ± 7.48; moderate: 15.24 ± 2.19; severe: 17.54 ± 2.98; p < 0.05) gradually increased, while level of vaspin decreased (mild: 317 ± 23.12; moderate: 269 ± 32.12; severe: 229 ± 14.24; p < 0.05).