Fig. 2

The effect of Pred and Dex in combination with HA on the release of s-GAGs. The percentage of the s-GAG content in the cartilage explant treatments was calculated and compared with that of the control group. After 14 days of treatment, the culture media were analyzed for the s-GAGs released into the media. The results are expressed as a percentage relative to the control. The white bar denotes the control; the light gray bars denote HA-treated or the co-treated groups; and the dark gray bars denote the steroid-treated groups. The data are expressed as the mean ± SD (n = 3). Significant differences are considered to exist when p < 0.05: “a” stands for significant differences compared with the control group; “b” denotes significant differences compared with the HA group; dagger (‡) stands for significant differences compared with all the Pred-treated groups; and asterisk (*) denotes significant differences between the treatment groups