Cartilage degeneration analysis device, device for diagnosing or aiding diagnosis which contains same, method for determining degree of degeneration of cartilage, and method for evaluating drug efficacy of test substance

A method for determining a degree of cartilage degeneration comprising:

• calculating, based on a Raman spectrum obtained by Raman spectrometry in which excitation light is irradiated to cartilage of a subject, a value representing at least one index from a group consisting of
• Index (a):
• hydration level of collagen,
• Index (b):
• composition and total amount of glycosaminoglycan, wherein the composition of glycosaminoglycan is a quantitative ratio of chondroitin sulfate and hyaluronic acid, and
• Index (c):
• level of glycosylation of protein and total amount of glycosaminoglycan;
• and
• determining the degree of cartilage degeneration based on the value calculated.

A method for evaluating a drug action of a test substance, comprising:

• calculating, based on a Raman spectrum from cartilage obtained by irradiating a part of cartilage of a subject administered with the test substance with excitation light, a value representing at least one index from a group consisting of
• Index (a):
• hydration level of collagen,
• Index (b):
• composition and total amount of glycosaminoglycan, wherein the composition of glycosaminoglycan is a quantitative ratio of chondroitin sulfate and hyaluronic acid, and
• Index (c):
• level of glycosylation of protein and total amount of glycosaminoglycan;
• and
• evaluating the drug action of the test substance based on the value calculated.