... Japan' and a grant from the 'New Energy and Industrial Tech-nology Development Organization (NEDO), Japan'. The authors wish to thank Toshiya Sato, PhD, Professor of Biostatistics, ... contributionsHK, YN, MK, KY, YO, TS and KN participated in the ultrasound measurement during the surgery. HK and KM participated in the analysis of the ultrasound indices. HK and KY performedstatistical analysis. ... cartilage in the patellar surface of the femur is softer, and cartilage in the tibial plateau exposedby the menisci is softest [21,22]. In the present study, the sig-nal intensity of grade 0 cartilage...