Histopathology

The intermediate colon tissue was cut and fixed immediately in 4% formalin and embedded in paraffin. Sections were cut in 5 μm thick, stained with hematoxylin-eosin and observed by a light microscope. Histological scoring were evaluated as the sum of two parameters according to the following criterion. Epithelium: 0 = normal; 1 = loss of goblet cells; 2 = loss of goblet cells in large areas; 3 = loss of crypts; 4 = loss of crypts in large areas; Inflammatory cell infiltration: 0 = no infiltrate; 1 = infiltrate around crypt basis; 2 = infiltration in the muscularis mucosa; 3 = extensive infiltration in the muscularis mucosa with edema; and 4 = infiltration of the submucosa.