CAS, Carotid artery stenosis;<br>CKD, Chronic kidney disease;<br>CVDs, Cardiovascular diseases;<br>CVI, Cerebrovascular insult;<br>DM, Diabetes mellitus;<br>DUS, Duplex ultrasound;<br>ECM, Extracellular matrix;<br>ELISA, Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay;<br>MMP, Matrix metalloproteinase;<br>RIND, Reversible ischemic neurological deficit;<br>TIA, Transient ischemic attack;<br>VCAM-1, Vascular cell adhesion molecule-1;<br>WHO, World Health Organization. The gene discussed is VCAM1; the disease is chronic kidney disease.