A total of 156 volunteers were recruited for this study, of which 80 were patients with atherosclerosis and 76 were healthy people matching the age and sex of the atherosclerosis group. The inclusion criteria for the atherosclerosis group included: patients diagnosed with carotid atherosclerosis by carotid artery ultrasonography. Exclusion criteria included rheumatic heart disease, recent traumatic surgical history, liver and kidney insufficiency, tumor, and hemorrhagic disease. After all volunteers were enrolled in the group, 5 mL of fasting venous blood was collected in anticoagulation tube, and the serum was separated after centrifugation and stored in −80 °C refrigerator for later use.
This research protocol has been approved by the Ethics Committee of Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine and follows the guidelines of the Declaration of Helsinki on human experiments. All volunteers have signed written informed consent.
This research protocol has been approved by the Ethics Committee of Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine and follows the guidelines of the Declaration of Helsinki on human experiments. All volunteers have signed written informed consent.
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