Table 2.

Histological and total evaluations at 27 weeks.

Findings Group	Group 1. Control φ3 mm × 5 mm			Group 2. UPAL gel φ3 mm × 5 mm				Group 3. Controlφ5 mm × 5 mm			Group 4. UPAL gel φ5 mm × 5 mm
Number of samples	10			10				10			10
Histological findings
Nature of Predominant Tissue	1.10 ± 0.23			2.20 ± 0.20			**	0.50 ± 0.17			1.50 ± 0.17			##
Surface regularity	2.00 ± 0.39			2.80 ± 0.13				0.60 ± 0.22			2.00 ± 0.21			##
Structural integrity, homogeneity	1.20 ± 0.25			1.70 ± 0.15				0.30 ± 0.15			0.90 ± 0.23			#
Thickness	0.50 ± 0.17			1.20 ± 0.20			*	0.00 ± 0.00			0.50 ± 0.17			#
Bonding to adjacent cartilage	1.40 ± 0.22			1.30 ± 0.15				0.90 ± 0.23			1.30 ± 0.15
Hypocellularity	0.40 ± 0.16			1.20 ± 0.20			**	0.00 ± 0.00			0.60 ± 0.16			##
Chondrocyte clustering	0.50 ± 0.17			1.40 ± 0.22			**	0.00 ± 0.00			0.60 ± 0.16			##
Adjacent cartilage degeneration	1.40 ± 0.16			1.60 ± 0.22				1.30 ± 0.21			1.70 ± 0.15
Reconstruction of subchondral bone	1.10 ± 0.28			2.20 ± 0.20			**	0.20 ± 0.13			0.90 ± 0.31
Inflammatory response in subchondral bone region	2.00 ± 0.00			2.00 ± 0.00				2.00 ± 0.00			2.00 ± 0.00
Safranin-O staining	0.90 ± 0.28			2.00 ± 0.21			**	0.20 ± 0.13			1.00 ± 0.21			##
Total histological score	12.50 ± 1.77			19.60 ± 1.33			**	6.00 ± 0.76			13.00 ± 1.37			##
Overall score	16.90 ± 2.42			24.20 ± 1.49			*	6.70 ± 0.79			15.90 ± 1.57			##

Mean ± Standard error.

* p < 0.05, **: p < 0.01 vs. the Group 1.

# p < 0.05, ##: p < 0.01 vs. the Group 3.