Editing 2177: Gastroenterology

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==Explanation==
 
==Explanation==
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{{w|Gastroenterology}} is the study of the normal function and diseases of the digestive system: esophagus, stomach, small intestine, colon and rectum, pancreas, gallbladder, bile ducts and liver.
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{{incomplete|Created by a GASTROENTEROLOGIST. Please mention here why this explanation isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
  
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{{w|Antibiotics}} are substances that kill bacteria. They are effective at treating bacterial infections, including in the gut; unfortunately, they can also kill the normal gut bacteria. {{w|Probiotics}} are harmless or helpful bacteria which are sometimes used to replace the bacteria killed by an antibiotic. This reduces chances of re-infection by pathogens, and allows the natural gut microbiome to recover more effectively; [[1471|comic 1471]] was about the same theme. Probiotics are included in many foods, such as yogurt, as well as supplements, and are marketed as having health benefits.
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{{w|Gastroenterology}} is the study of the normal function and diseases of the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, colon and rectum, pancreas, gallbladder, bile ducts and liver.
  
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The comic plays on the names probiotic and antibiotic.  When {{w|matter}} and {{w|antimatter}} are mixed, they {{w|annihilation|annihilate}} each-other, rapidly releasing energy (an explosion).
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{{w|Antibiotics}} are substances that kill bacteria. They are very effective at treating bacterial infections, unfortunately, they can also kill the good gut bacteria. {{w|Probiotics}} are harmless bacteria, they are often used to replace the bacteria killed by the antibiotic. This prevents re-infection and allows the natural gut flora to recover more effectively, [[1471|just like wolves can be used to rebuild the gut fauna]]. Probiotics are also commonly marketed as being in many foods, including yogurt, as having having health benefits.
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This comic imagines a similar process when probiotics and antibiotics are mixed: Ponytail and a nurse runs into a room, with someone chasing after them, leading the nurse to exclaim that “they’re right behind us.” Ponytail mixes the probiotics and antibiotics, and throws the jar like a grenade, before continuing to run with the nurse. The reaction between the probiotics and antibiotics causes the jar to explode, presumably killing the pursuer. In reality, antibiotics and probiotics are often used simultaneously during treatment, but they are taken so that they do not mix (taken at different times or by different methods). Mixing them as in the comic, would just cause the antibiotic to kill the probiotic bacteria. Explosive reactions between antibiotics and probiotics are highly unlikely.{{citation needed}}
 
  
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Matter and antimatter would react pretty much instantly upon mixing, not a short time later, as in the comic.  (Also, one could not keep antimatter in a normal jar, or pour it in an atmosphere).  The reaction shown is similar to the reaction between a strong acid and a strong base, which could cause an explosion after a short delay if kept in a tightly sealed container like a water bottle, as in the explosion here.
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Antibiotics and probiotics are often used together during a treatment, however, mixing them like in the comic would just cause the antibiotic to kill the probiotic bacteria. Explosive reactions between antibiotics and probiotics are unlikely and would probably make the FDA raise a few objections.
  
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In the last panel, Ponytail is giving a more mundane summary of what gastroenterology is like (lots of paperwork). This is similar to Indiana Jones saying that archaeology is boring. The explosion sequence might be:
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In the comic, [[Ponytail]], wearing a lab coat, rushes to a table with two vials while holding a water bottle. Right behind her is a guy wearing a scrubs hat, who exclaims, "Hurry, they're right behind us!" in reference to some off-screen antagonists. Ponytail mixes the contents of the two vials, labeled "probiotic" and "antibiotic", shakes the water bottle, and throws it in the direction of the foes, which surprisingly results in an explosion.
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* Ponytail's action fantasy of what the job could be.
 
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* Megan's fantasy, and Ponytail is telling her what it is actually like.
 
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* Real, and Ponytail is covering it up.
 
  
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In the title text, Ponytail adds that her work makes her aware of a child coughing as the server was bringing food at the restaurant table, exposing the food to possible germs that could cause a gastrointestinal infection.
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In the last panel, the above is revealed to be some kind of action fantasy. Ponytail's reality is far more mundane. She tells Megan that her work is mostly boring paperwork. It is also possible that the scene above is reality, and Ponytail is covering this up by saying her work is mostly paperwork.
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The probiotic + antibiotic = explosion may refer to {{w|annihilation}}, a reaction between particles and antiparticles, which produces important energy, hence the explosion; the particles being the probiotic matter and the antiparticles being the antibiotic matter, even though annihilation usually implies subatomic particles.
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In the title text, Ponytail adds that her work makes her aware of a child coughing as the server was bringing food at the restaurant table, exposing the food to possible germs.
  
 
==Transcript==
 
==Transcript==
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:[The first five panels appear in a single row.]
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{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
 
:[Ponytail, wearing a lab coat, and a guy wearing a scrubs hat rush in from the right side of the panel. Ponytail is holding a water bottle. There is a desk on the left of the panel with two jars.]
 
:[Ponytail, wearing a lab coat, and a guy wearing a scrubs hat rush in from the right side of the panel. Ponytail is holding a water bottle. There is a desk on the left of the panel with two jars.]
 
:Hat guy: Hurry, they're right behind us!
 
:Hat guy: Hurry, they're right behind us!
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:An arrow points to the right jar: Antibiotic
 
:An arrow points to the right jar: Antibiotic
  
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:[A borderless panel. Zoom out on Ponytail shaking the water bottle to mix the two substances.]
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:[Zoom out on Ponytail shaking the water bottle to mix the two substances.]
 
:Shake Shake Shake
 
:Shake Shake Shake
  
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:BOOM
 
:BOOM
  
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:[The last panel is the only panel in its row, appearing at the far right end of the row and slightly narrower than the fifth panel above it.]
 
 
:[Megan and Ponytail sitting at a table, facing each other, having a meal.]
 
:[Megan and Ponytail sitting at a table, facing each other, having a meal.]
 
:Megan: So what's gastroenterology like?
 
:Megan: So what's gastroenterology like?
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[[Category:Biology]]
 
[[Category:Biology]]
 
[[Category:Physics]]
 
[[Category:Physics]]
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[[Category:Doctor Ponytail]]
 

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