Abstract: There is described the production of a pharmaceutical composition for the eatment of autoimmune diseases, whereby multiple sclerosis is excluded. As active materials, there are thereby used compounds of the general formula I ##STR1## in which R.sub.1 represents alkyl with 12 to 18 carbon atoms, R.sub.2 alkyl with 1 to 8 carbon atoms and R.sub.3 H or alkyl with 1 to 3 carbon atoms.

Abstract: The invention relates to an aqueous extract of the Acanthospermum hispidum plant and its use as a medicament. The extract is effective as an immunomodulator, in the remedy of radiation sickness, in the prophylaxis and therapy of virus diseases and in the prophylaxis and therapy of retroviral diseases in mammals, and has an antitumor effect.

Abstract: To provide a disposable container which can be prefabricated under sterile conditions, a pair of concentric plastic rings are formed with interfitting, interlocking projection and recess means permitting the rings to be snapped together, the rings being additionally formed with matching fitting surfaces to interpose the edge portion of a gas permeable membrane therebetween so that, when the membrane is placed on the outer ring and the two rings are snapped together, the membrane is irremovably held. Preferably, the outer ring is made of a softer, yielding plastic, the inner ring of a more rigid plastic, with a projection snapping into a groove formed on the inner, more rigid ring, and the matching clamping surfaces for the membrane forming a sinuous, tortuous path with a flexible projecting lip on the outer ring fitting into a recess to clamp the membrane and seal the membrane in the structure.

Abstract: Cells are grown in a layer attached to the roughened inner wall of a conter of fluorinated ethylenepropylene copolymer filled with a culture medium buffered with bicarbonate ions. The pH of the medium is monitored and maintained by varying the rate at which carbon dioxide is fed to the gas phase in an incubator enclosing the container which is permeable to gas, but impermeable to liquid. The partial pressure of oxygen in the gas phase is monitored, and controlled by varying the rate at which oxygen is fed to the incubator. Nitrogen is fed to the incubator at a rate varying inversely to the change in carbon dioxide feeding rate to maintain the partial pressure of oxygen under otherwise stable conditions. The medium may be pumped through the container intermittently or continuously and may be replaced by fresh medium when pH changes cannot be compensated by varying the carbon dioxide feeding rate.