**5.3 Histological examination**

A portion of each specimen was embedded in paraffin, processed with xylene, cut into 5 mm thick sections, and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. All sections were studied blindly at a maximum magnification of 600x and were graded in a semiquantitative fashion for cellular constituents and particulate debris according to Mirra et al. (Mirra et al., 1976). Tissue necrosis was recorded as present or absent.
