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, including in the gut; unfortunately, they can also kill the good gut bacteria. {{w|Probiotics}} are harmless or helpful bacteria which are sometimes used to replace the good bacteria killed by an antibiotic. This prevents re-infection 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, and are marketed as 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. Mixing them as in the comic, however, would just cause the antibiotic to kill the probiotic bacteria rather than causing an explosion. Explosive reactions between antibiotics and probiotics are highly unlikely[[citation needed]]. The probiotic + antibiotic = explosion may refer to {{w|annihilation}}, a reaction between particles and antiparticles, i.e. between {{w|matter}} and {{w|antimatter}}, which produces large amounts of energy — an explosion — although one could not keep antiparticles (antimatter) in a jar touched by a person made up of particles (matter), and the explosion would happen pretty much instantly upon mixing, not a short time later. Another possibility is that the sequence refers to a reaction between an acid and a base, which could cause an explosion if kept in a tightly sealed container like a water bottle and would additionally take a bit of time to occur, as in the explosion here.
  
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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 last panel, Ponytail appears to be covering this action up by saying to Megan that her work is merely a lot of paperwork. Another explanation is that the explosion sequence is some kind of action fantasy on Ponytail's part and she is telling Megan the reality of her mundane job. A third explanation is that this is Megan's fantasy about gastroenterology and Ponytail is telling her what it is actually like.
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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 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 gastroenterological infection.
  
 
==Transcript==
 
==Transcript==
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{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
 
:[The first five panels appear in a single row.]
 
:[The first five panels appear in a single row.]
 
:[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.]
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[[Category:Biology]]
 
[[Category:Biology]]
 
[[Category:Physics]]
 
[[Category:Physics]]
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[[Category:Doctor Ponytail]]
 

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