Abstract: A short pulse of laser excitation and a synchronized gating time control of a fluorescence spectrograph detector are combined with a microscope, precise focusing and delivery optics, multi-mode illumination means, cooling, and temperature controls to form a new microspectrophotometry system. The gating control can block detection of any unwanted excitation radiation, such as nearly instantaneous (within 10.sup.-12 seconds) emissions after the sample is pulse excited and delayed emissions (after 10.sup.-7 seconds) after the sample is pulse excited. The gating also allows delayed emissions to be separately isolated. The microscopic focusing, pulse excitation and time segregation of detected emissions achieves a new level of precision in the detected structural spectra and property measurements not generally achievable for composite samples by prior art methods and devices.

Abstract: A heating and targeting laser beam and microscope apparatus optically senses, heats to generate a effluent fluid and chemically analyzes the thermal extract fluid or fluid pyrolyzates from a microscopic particle within a heterogeneous composite sample. A transparent duct-like chamber having a bottom opening is attached to a microscope. A contact surface of the sample is raised to abut against the bottom opening, which encloses the space around the particle and also brings the particle into the common focal plane of the microscope and the converging laser beam(s). This single step avoids the complex separate focusing and sealing steps required by present day techniques.

Abstract: A-Nor-5.alpha.-androstane compounds, such as the dipropionate and disuccinate esters of 2.alpha.,17.alpha.-diethynyl-A-Nor-5.alpha.-androstane-2.beta.,17.beta.-di ol and the corresponding 2.alpha.,17.alpha.-diol stereoisomers have an inhibitory effect on malignant cell growth and can be used to treat various carcinomas in mammals.